Featured here is the work of four young photographers from Suffolk and Norfolk: Tom Allen of Kesgrave High School; Bilal Bounit from Suffolk One, Rose Gant from St Albans High School and Mya Fairweather from Sprowston Community Academy.

The four were selected for the PhotoEast 2018 Young Person’s Fellowship award from among more than 30 entries from students aged 16-19 studying art and photography in the region’s colleges and schools. Each of the students has been mentored by a professional photographer and produced work around the festival theme of belonging. As part of their award, they also have the opportunity of work experience at London photography agency Panos Pictures.

 

I wanted to explore issues of identity in both the content and presentation of my work. How much of our identity can be distinguished when the face is blurred? How much does body language and the clothes we wear signify who we are? I started with an original image and photographed a range of different people – ages, gender and behavioural characteristics – to create the final piece. The layout of the final presentation was randomly allocated through shuffling the photographs like a ‘pack of cards’, symbolising how everyone is different, everyone is unique in their own way. And that difference is something to cherish. – Mya Fairweather