Two local artists have revamped the old tradition of seaside photography in Southend as they look to capture the modern town as it is today.
Chris Lang, 64, from Hadleigh and Ann Morgan, 72, from Billericay are photographers who camped out on the sea front throughout 2009 and 2010 to offer free portrait photos to passers by as part of an art project called ‘Promenade’.
“I have photographs of my mother on the seafront from Blackpool and Scarborough but now everyone has a phone with a camera the tradition has really been killed off,” Chris told the Enquirer.
“We felt that there is still a certain novelty in someone else offering to take a photo for you and I think the photos we took show that people act completely differently when put in that position”.
They have now collected their work and are displaying photos in an exhibition at Southend Central Library’s ground floor gallery until 14 September.
The pair, who are both now retired, worked alongside each other headteacher and deputy head at Grange Junior School, Wickford, and their friendship grew from a shared interest in the arts.
Since retiring they have both studied photography together at the City and Guilds and South East Essex College.
Speaking of how the two came up with the idea Chris said:”When we first came up with the idea it was simply because we like taking photographs of people and we wanted a project which involved the public.
“It has ended up as almost a snap shot of modern Southend – we didn’t set out to do that at first but the exhibition has become a little record of Southend at 2010.”
During their time camped out on the sea front with tripods and cameras the pair faced some puzzled looks - none more so than from passers by who could not believe the pair were offering photos for free.
“There were some who were cynical saying ‘Why free?’ but we felt if we were going to - in a sense – ‘borrow’ their bodies for our project we didn’t want to pay or for them to have to pay.”
“In the course of our time down there we photographed a couple who were getting married the next day, families, a man in a wheelchair with his carer and young groups down from London for the weekend.
“There was a real mix including a great picture of a group of youngsters with cans of lager a little worse for wear.
“We’re now looking into another project of taking photos of the cafes along the seafront with their owners outside to record the change of the town after the success of this last project”.
If you would like to catch the exhibition it runs from 25 August – 14 September at Southend Central Library on Victoria Avenue.