D A V I D

S E V E R N

Over the course of Photo-Canopy 2016 I created a series of photographs within The National Forest exploring the relationship between the residents and the evolutionary landscape they inhabit. Referring to the area's industrial history within my depiction of place, I paired together portraits of local people alongside photographs surveying the topography of The National Forest. These images reflected on the arrangement of natural and artificial physical features in the landscape.

Having experience of making work in similar post-industrial parts of the UK, I employed a familiar research lead approach as in previous projects. I am interested in several cultural and ecological phenomenons of The National Forest which form a point of departure for the work. The area's major industries have heavily tapped the land's natural resources. Coal was mined for centuries and even today subterranean springs pump the much celebrated water of Burton-On-Trent. The water, charmed for the global success of the local brewing industry, is a fabled ingredient in Burton beers owing to its high mineral content.

I involved students of Burton & South Derbyshire College in the making of the project in several ways. Students had the chance to shadow me on photoshoots, gaining insight into professional documentary photography practice. I had an active and critically engaging relationship with students and staff at the college during the project in order to gather feedback. Input from students and staff gently steered the direction of the work. I also utilised local knowledge of students familiar with The National Forest area to inform the work.