The Shot I Never Forgot
‘The Shot I Never Forgot’ is an Arts Council funded project in which participating artists were invited to share a photograph that has remained in their mind since they shot it along with the story behind its creation. Most of the artists instinctively knew which image they should share, sometimes because it was poignant, sometimes because of its personal significance or simply because it is a great photograph.
As photographers, we shoot many more images than ever see the light of day, often including fabulous stand alone pictures – shot on instinct – whilst making work for another project. Because these single images do not fit the brief, they sit gathering dust in an ever-growing archive. The Shot I Never Forgot is a chance for some of these images to be presented in their own right, for others to enjoy; a platform to enable some of these memorable photographs to be seen for the first time.
This project began in February 2013 and culminated in an exhibition and publication, held during the Brighton photo Fringe 2014. Since then, it has been lying dormant, ocassionally being dusted off to receive some new submissions!
John House, February 2018
Alex Ingram
‘Kids on Beach, 2017’ “This image was taken on New Years day 2017. It’s taken from a short story I shot on the 50 or so people that every year brave the icy waters and freezing temperatures to partake in the New Years Day swim at Whitesands Bay, Pembrokeshire. I shot about 10 rolls of TriX that day, but unbeknown to me, my Hasselblad had a light leak and as a result a number of portraits where damaged. Thankfully this was one of the survivors. As soon as I got to the beach, I was immediately drawn to these 2 children huddled up under a mountain of blankets trying to keep warm whilst their dad partook in the swim and the whole world seemed to carry on around them. As I approached to take their portrait they didn’t move an inch, just sitting there staring straight at me with their eyes piercing down my lens. I took just one frame and then moved on." It was a fleeting moment, but one that has stuck with me ever since and is an image that I have found myself returning to ever since.”
