Henley Royal Regatta

Is a series of rowing races, which are held at Henley on Thames, normally held over the first weekend in July each year. Originally established in 1839, becoming Henley Royal Regatta in 1851, when Prince Albert became the first Royal patron. Thereby giving the event a place on the social calendar.

The Stewards enclosure is only open to the stewards of the Regatta, members of the stewards enclosure and their guests, because of the social nature of the event often their is more interest in the people on the banks of the river than the rowing itself. I am interested in the social landscape that exists at this event each year I have been photographing on various days at the Regatta since 2005. Each year, I see something different in the event.

My approach to making these documentary images is to use a fixed focal length lens on my camera, never flash, as I don’t want to overpower or disturb my subject, with a burst of flash lighting. I have established a method of working, with some of these techniques coming from street photography, all the images adhere to a social documentary approach to photographic practice. I do not manipulate the images more than adjustments in white balance, tone, contrast and sharpening, no photoshoping elements within the image. This keeps the “truth” in the image, as I saw it at the moment of making the image. This project will continue for as long as I see something new each year as it evolves over time, I also find it interesting to see how my processes and thoughts change each year. The images you will see in this portfolio, are from a variety of years attending Henley Royal Regatta.