A Moment in a Life

A Moment in a Life—Guest curated by Paul Glazier

For this online show I have selected portraits, from young to old, from the archives of the Elliott Gallery which somehow convey a sense of the life experience of the subject, where there is a sense of the weight of being in the expressions. 

They all seem to be at a moment of transition in their lives, some inhabit that space with more confidence, appearing simply to luxuriate in their physicality, owning their age. Others seem more vulnerable, resting at a point where the past leans against unknown futures. In these images the camera's inspection of a moment is reflected in the sitters' own introspection as they pause, either to pose, aware of themselves through the eyes of the photographer, or simply immersed in their own silence and stillness.

Each moment of life is transitional. In these images there is a palpable sense of a state arrested as a life moves from experience to experience.

I took this photo in 1985 on the island of Vatersay in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.

Since I first went there in 1978 I've been back countless times and have seen many children, like Jennifer here, grow up and have their own kids and even grandchildren. By going back year after year the experience seems to have a time lapse quality. I've included this image as testimony to a fleeting moment in the life of not only one child but of a whole community.  

For me this evokes so well the feelings I had as a boy of this age. The sense of enjoyment of play with others, in this case swimming, but with a growing sense of being apart, becoming my own person.

Although not strictly speaking a portrait there is something about his expression that says so much about his state of mind. He's clearly a lad trying to do something important with his life, to find a direction, and yet there is a sense of exhaustion and incipient disappointment, a sense of anti-climax.

In spite of the apparent simplicity of the image this resonates both on a physical and emotional level. You can't help but vicariously feel the cold water but also, for me at least, there is something that evokes a broader sense of being. The way the face and eyes are turned up whilst the body is submerged feels like a metaphor for our consciousness. Even if not intended, one of the qualities of great images is that they can tap into our psyche on a deeper level.

Pop stars normally have a public face that they present to the media. Here Hopkins appears to look beyond the superficial glamour. Regardless of who it is, this is a moving image of a youth who has already seen a lot.

Likewise, strippers are all about presentation but here, in spite of the flawless unassailable surface, there is something very vulnerable about his stance. With his attention turned inwards, his rumpled y-fronts demolish the glamour, making him wholly human.

This young man has such a look of defiance yet awareness of his  mortality. Redolent of the kind of spirit required to endure such adventures, you sense that he is fully alert and alive.

This is such a touching shot. Surrounded by captured moments of many lives, Wanda herself, sits immortalised in her own moment of introspection.

The rest moments of which I wrote can also be shared, and here is a special one I had with Ma MacNeil. I knew her over a period of forty years and she was always very warm but direct. She didn't suffer fools gladly and was quite outspoken. She became very frail at the end but her strong spirit always shone through.

All photographs in this exhibition are available to purchase via the online print store. Click on the image to view the price and size and to complete the purchase.

Most images are also available in larger formats. Please contact Elliott Gallery for further information.