A poignant moment captured by a Loughborough College student has been selected to appear in a major photography exhibition.
With 316 submissions from 132 young photographers, an expert panel chose Hathern Widdowson’s black and white image of her great grandmother as amongst the 22 best works for the Format 19 exhibition at the LCB Depot in Leicester.
The 17 year old Loughborough College art and design student interpreted the theme Forever/Now with a series of photographs of her great grandparents.
“My great nana is 83 and has cancer and my great grandad, who suffers from dementia, is 85. I wanted to take the opportunity to capture them both – they are such characters,” said Hathern.
“There was nothing posed. I just visited them at their bungalow and took a handful of photos. My nana was watching an old black and white comedy – and that was the image the judges chose.
“Before Loughborough College, I had never done any photography but my tutors introduced me to it as part of the course and, with their support, it has really grown on me.
“I still can’t believe my photograph was chosen out of so many. My mum is so excited. My great nana is too ill to go to the exhibition but my nana is going to take my great grandad. He is very chuffed.”
“I am delighted that Hathern’s photography has been chosen to be exhibited,” added Margaret Judge, creative arts lecturer at Loughborough College. “The shoot she submitted was not only technically accomplished but also a very sensitive portrayal of age and the theme Forever/Now.
“This is a fantastic endorsement of the quality of Hathern’s work – and the level of talent we have amongst our art and design students at the College. I am incredibly proud of her achievement.”
The Format Festival FOREVER/NOW exhibition runs from 15 March – 13 April at LCB Depot, 31 Rutland St, Leicester, LE1 1RE http://www.lcbdepot.co.uk/event/format19