Glasgow photographer in the frame for new book
Images showcased in publication looking at ‘ changing face’ of Britain
AGLASGOW photographer will have three of his images featured in a book showcasing the “changing face” of Britain.
Simon Murphy will have three images from his project Govanhill 100 Rolls included in the Portrait of Britain Vol. 5 book, while two will also feature on JCDecaux digital screens across the country as part of a month- long digital exhibition.
The Portrait of Britain is the UK’s biggest annual photography exhibition and is designed to illustrate the diversity of life in modern Britain, with 200 images selected to appear in the book and 100 of those selected to be displayed on screens.
Simon’s images are part of a project he has been working on for around 20 years.
The 46- year- old explained: “The project is part of a bigger project which is just called Govanhill.
“I’ve been shooting that properly for the last seven years but actually, it started about 20 years ago when I lived in Govanhill as a student. The 100 rolls part of it is I was awarded 100 rolls of film from a place called the Film Photo Awards so it just gave me a new incentive to try and get one new portrait per roll of film.
“It’s medium format film so I get 10 frames on that, so I was aiming to get one portrait per roll and get 100 new portraits.”
One of Simon’s winning images features Dylan Lombard, a photography student from the city’s Southside.
Dylan, 19, is also one of 16 people worldwide who has been diagnosed with MDP Syndrome, a rare metabolic disorder that prevents fatty tissues from being stored underneath the skin.
Simon says he had wanted to feature him in his project for some time.
He said: “There was a festival in Govanhill, a Love Music Hate Racism festival, and I’ve known Dylan for a while because he’s a photography student so I see him around quite a lot and I’ve been to his exhibitions and I’ve always wanted to photograph him but for me, it’s got to be the right
moment. On that particular day, there was a band playing in Govanhill just off Victoria Road and I saw Dylan and he was dancing, and it was a fantastic dance he was doing, and I just thought ‘ today is the day’.”
He added: “It’s brilliant [ it’s been selected].
“I’ve been in it [ Portrain of
Britain] a couple of times over the past couple of years, but to have the portrait of Dylan there is quite special and I know how much it means to him, I know how much it means to his family too so it’s a lovely thing.”
Dylan, who uses social media to raise awareness of MDP, says he is “proud” his portrait will feature in the exhibition.
He said: “I feel that showing myself, I feel proud.
“But also having that portrait that’s going to be seen by people all over the UK, it helps show the uniqueness of the photo. And to see all the other portraits that were being chosen to show Britain,
I feel it’s been good it’s also been chosen to help raise that awareness as well.”
Another of Simon’s portraits of twins, James and Brian was also selected as one of the 100 pictures which will be displayed on screens across the UK, while Jim will also feature in the Portrait of Britain Vol. 5 book.