Taking Time

Taking Time is a photographic series consisting of images made at St Catherine’s Breakwater, predominantly during the first and second lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic. The work documents the popular pastime of fishing, frequently carried out along the Breakwater.

Combining observational portraits of individuals fishing with reflective photographs of the surrounding environment, the images work together in narrative form to explore fishing as a highly contemplative activity, enabling participants to enter a state of solitude and reflection.

Through the images, the viewer is invited to consider how recreational practices such as fishing allow space to temporarily escape the stresses of everyday life. Made during a tumultuous period marked for many by confusion and fear, the photographs in contrast convey an atmosphere of reassurance and calm, serving as poignant reminders of the important role recreation can play during moments of challenge and uncertainty.