Judges
JUDGE CHOICE
Courtesy of Simon Murphy
Simon Murphy
Simon Murphy's career has enabled him to travel extensively, shooting human interest stories in countries such as Bangladesh, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Cambodia. His portraiture subjects range from individuals such as the Dalai Lama to musicians and actors including Noel Gallagher, Bobby Gillespie, and John Hurt.
The images from his personal project "Govanhill" have only been available through a limited edition newspaper that Simon publishes and distributes free around the shops, and cafe's in the area in his hometown of Glasgow.
"The idea is that to get hold of a newspaper, people have to come into Govanhill and find one. I post clues on my Instagram page (smurph77). While searching for a newspaper, the individual might buy a coffee or a record, contributing a little to the local economy, or perhaps change preconceived ideas that have been formed due to negative publicity.
The project is about community and diversity. Govanhill is not without its problems, but it's also a place where people come together and share culture and experience. It's an exciting place that I love and where I have many connections.""My images have always been about celebrating diversity and seeing beauty in our differences. Sometimes it's important to ask yourself difficult questions and Photography has the power to trigger thoughts in people's minds that can plant the seeds for change"
Video about the project: https://youtu.be/-WvcRdD2Qt8
Govanhill
Govanhill is an area in Glasgow's southside that is the constituency of Scotland's first minster, Nicola Sturgeon.
Simon Murphy's images form a "Portrait of the Place," aiming to give an insight into one of Scotland's most diverse areas. "The project is about community and diversity. Govanhill is not without its problems, but it's also a place where people come together and share culture and experience. "My images have always been about celebrating diversity and seeing beauty in our differences. Sometimes it's important to ask yourself difficult questions and Photography has the power to trigger thoughts in people's minds that can plant the seeds for change".
Dubbed Glasgow's "Ellis Island", Govanhill has traditionally been a place where immigrants "arrive" in Glasgow and eventually move on from. It is estimated that 88 languages are spoken in the densely populated area of only 0.33 square miles. It's a mixing pot of cultures and ethnicities. These differences have contributed to tension within the community, people often fear what is unfamiliar to them and worry about how change might impact their own lives, but it's also these cultural differences that help make Govanhill one of the most diverse and exciting places in the city.