After the coal dust with John Gill

John Gill has been recommended by other speakers in the UK, he was also requested by people in the Camversation community and reached out himself to give a talk to us. It just had to happen!

About the talk:

The photographs are designed to show life in local areas, now that the coal mines have closed. Although these images are taken in the “coal towns” they are equally relevant to many areas of a post-industrial Britain as other traditional industries such as steel and textiles have seen a similar decline. Similar situations are echoed across countless developed nations, moving from a heavy industry/manufacturing base.

The idea is not one of nostalgia for the ‘good old days’ but a dispassionate look at what comes after the closure of an area’s main industry and focal point.

Whilst looking primarily at the people in the local community the 'After the Coal Dust project' also features a series of images of a 90 year old former Bevin Boy Elliott Sheard of Pudsey (Bridget’s father) and his life today.

Although the larger cities have seen major investment and regeneration many areas have not seen the same opportunities for renewal. These photographs put a face to some of the people in these areas.

From John:

I try and keep technical aspects of photography to a minimum in the talks, it’s as much about ‘why’ as ‘how’. The UK has changed a lot of the last couple of decades, we’ve pretty much lost our heavy industry – coal, steel, textiles etc. In the North of Britain (I’m in Yorkshire) a lot communities were built around these industries, After the Coal Dust is an attempt to show the people left behind.

This talk will be recorded and made available for two weeks after the event.