KATIE WAGGETT SUNDAY BEST Armando Jongejan FRPS

The RPS Benelux Chapter PHOTOBOOK Katie Waggett

Sunday Best A celebration of diversity

As written before in another of our eJournals, I like the Hoxton Mini Press publications. This publisher makes collectable photography books. I bought this small book even before it was published. Read about the reasons why documentary photographer Katie Waggett made this body of work.

Mix of cultural identities that make London home

In 2017, following a summer of terrorist attacks in London and a year after the EU referendum, divisive political rhetoric and antimulticulturalism dominated the news. I found myself anxious and pessimistic about the future of living in Britain. It seemed bleak. In response, I began making portraits, photographing the kaleidoscopic mix of cultural identities that make London home, all living and interacting side-by-side in this densely populated space. Such experiences ran counter to the widely shared belief that people from different nationalities, religions and races cannot coexist peacefully. The more I spoke with people, the more I came to realise that so many of the problems we see today are driven by a fear of the unknown. Responses from minority groups to questions of Britishness were surprisingly positive, with people overwhelmingly identifying as British and proud to be so. People don’t claim a national identity unless they feel valued within it. The pride that I witnessed gave me a renewed sense of optimism that acted as the springboard for this project.

I wanted to capture people in clothing true to that particular Sunday

The portraits were made using the street as my studio. I approached strangers after a service and, in that immediate moment and surroundings, I negotiated an image. I wanted to respond to the rhythm of the street and capture people in clothing true to that particular Sunday, without any embellishment that might have been contrived in the more constructed environment of a studio. It is these diverse fashions, often distinct with visual markers signifying nationality and religion, that create a language of cultural pride. This pride is a symbol of the freedom of expression so alive in Londoners today, a dedication to their roots and personal identities.

Builds upon the values and customs of its many communities

It is echoed by the various places of worship where the portraits were made, each unique in aesthetic. Ultimately, this body of work recognises London as a city that acknowledges and builds upon the values and customs of its many communities. If our neighbouring European cities have taught us anything, it is that the restriction of a person’s means of expressing their sense of self and cultural heritage results in exclusion, and eventually breeds resentment, suspicion, and even hatred. The London that I observed through visiting its many religious sites is a city where difference is not just tolerated, but celebrated. A city that accommodates the practice of multiple religious beliefs and cultural traditions is a city that provides its citizens with a sense of being at home, as well as of belonging to the collective identity that is Britishness. I believe this accommodating attitude is a great testament to the capital. It is a success story that illustrates how far we have come, as a result of post-war immigration, in learning to respect one another’s differences and in fostering an intercultural dialogue which serves to emphasise a common ground on which to build a future.

© Katie Waggett - page 4 - Sikhism | Park Avenue Gurdwara, Southall

© Katie Waggett - Islam | East London Mosque, Whitechapel

© Katie Waggett - from the book Sunday Best

Stories to draw hope from the success of multiculturalism in London

During this period of intense national transition, we are at risk of being consumed by cynicism and fear. In such a moment, it is especially important to look to the freedom of lifestyles, religions and cultures that surround us as examples of the qualities that make London special. The last 75 years have produced a new, more inclusive narrative, one which we need to recognise if we are to avoid repeating the destructive dynamics of our past. It is now more important than ever to tell these stories and to draw hope from the success of multiculturalism in London. Through this series of portraits, I aim to do just that.

Photobook ‘Sunday Best’

The book is published in April 2020 and you can find more information about this photobook and many others on the Hoxton Mini Press website.

© 'Sunday Best: A celebration of diversity' by Katie Waggett, 176 pages, hardback, 151mm x 199mm

© Katie Waggett - Christianity | House of Praise, Camberwell

© Katie Waggett - Christianity | Christ’s Chosen Church of God, Southwark

The RPS Benelux-Chapter WORKSHOP by Patrick van Dijk Workshop Night Photography

To see that there are so many people interested in my style of shooting and want to learn these skills from me gives me a very proud feeling and keeps me motivated to do better then before

Workshops on 18th September 2020

We are organising a night photography workshop with Patrick for our Benelux Chapter on Friday 18th September 2020 at 20.00h in Rotterdam. We will use COVID-19 safety guidelines and if it is raining there is an alternative location. Meeting point is Stieltjesstraat next to the ‘Hef’ bridge in Rotterdam (near the Erasmusbrug). The costs is Euro 20 pp and payment is in advance. Do you want to join? Please contact André Bergmans ASAP. See also the article about Patrick in eJournal volume 18. Meeting point

© Patrick van Dijk