When writer, broadcaster and fellow Hastings resident Michael Smith told me a few months ago about visiting St Clements caves, underneath the West Hill, it was quite a story. He’d visited the caves as part of a feature for the brilliant independent magazine Get Hastings. Fast forward a few months later and he and Beth King (the editor of the magazine) had come up with a whole 45 minute film inspired by the caves, but which delved further into the wider “esoteric underbelly” of the town.

Photos from XMTR x Sono Electro

Thanks to XMTR, for inviting me to photograph one of their curated days at Sono Electro, a sound and audio festival in St Leonards on Sea. I enjoyed the diversity of performances and stories and as ever, it was great to be involved in such a brilliant event in my local community.

THIS WAY UP - Masters Degree Show at Free Range, London

MA Photojournalism & Documentary Photography, class of 2024, present:

THIS WAY UP.

Graduate Show, at Free Range

Photos from Hastings Strike Action

Here is a selection of photographs from Strike Action in Hastings on Feb 1st. Hundreds of striking teaching staff, cleaning staff, DWP & NHS workers and more came out joined the rally from Hastings Pier to the Observer Building, to ask for better pay and conditions.

Printing My First Photobook

10 days ago, I had a mega exciting & nerve-racking 12 hour day at DG3 printers in Kent where the Drumz Of The South book was litho-printed! I learnt a lot about the process, such as the fact there are 300,000 variables for each print. Litho is an analogue process involving aluminium plates, buckets of Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black ink, water, oil & even a tiny bit of alcohol. Tis the season after-all.

Hastings Rally For Refugees

On December 11th, the Hastings community came together to show solidarity with refugees, migrants and asylum seekers. Hastings is a coastal town overlooking The Channel - the treacherous bit of sea that many people cross or attempt to cross, often in small dinghy’s. It’s an issue that is often in the news, due to the tragic deaths of many people as they try to cross the channel, but also due to the attitude of the UK government towards these crossings, and towards migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in general. I went to the rally to show my support, but also to document some of the MANY people in the town, that are also in solidarity with refugees. The message is clear, Hastings supports refugees!

New Series, FOR THE TIME BEING (Lockdown Diaries).

FOR THE TIME BEING is a series of images taken throughout the various lockdowns we’ve had here in Hasting, some of which you might have seen on my Insta or in a previous blog post. Hopefully the series gives you a sense of the stillness and sometimes emptiness of this peculiar time, plus the new kind of intimacy with home and locale that so many of us had.

Makeup & Mirrors: Behind the Scenes with Ocean All Over

These photos are from behind the scenes with Ocean All Over at The National Centre for Craft & Design in Sleaford in September. I was there to document the company’s two socially distanced performances on the lawn in front of the centre - you can find all of those photos on the special Ocean All Over page in the Navigation menu.

REWIND! Re-visiting The Carvery Studio (& meeting Leo The Boxer dog)

This week I had the pleasure of returning to Carvery Studios, in their new Leyton location.

I first met Carvery while on assignment for FACT Magazine, photographing a story about London’s Mastering Houses and it was really nice to see how much they’ve grown since then.

“Youth of Today” - The Teds

I'm sure I've mentioned it before, but I LOVE anything to do with sub cultures and youth culture and contemporary music history. Which is why when footage like this comes my way - about Teddy Boys, I get very excited.

Photos of Hastings Jack In The Green 2019

Here, Jack In The Green, Hastings annual celebration of the coming of summer, sits next to the crowning of the May Queen as apparently the two are related. It’s a busy time of year for the Morris Dancers of Hastings, as well as the various community groups and societies in the area. It’s all nature and community and community and nature, generally framed and buffered with a whole lot of music, dancing and merriment - making it feel all that more normal and familiar for a girl that grew up with the dancing, merriment, music and community of events like Notting Hill Carnival.

From The Archives: May Day 2000 Protests

Some archive photos from The May Day Riots / Reclaim The Streets protests on May 1st in the year 2000, in Central London, by Georgina Cook 🌹💪

Sussex Wunt Be Druv - New WIP project online.

Sussex Wunt Be Druv - A WIP project about change, perceived or otherwise. By photographer Georgina Cook.

But them as comes to Sussex,
They mustn't push and shove,
For Sussex will be Sussex,
And Sussex won't be druv!

PhotographyGeorgina Cook21 January 2019wuntbedruv, wip, 2019, hastings, sussex, documentary photography, Georgina Cook, st leonard's, Brexit, DFL, Gentrification, UK, seaside townComment

Currently Feelin* (Podcast Love #1): A Small Voice

Today I listened to the latest episode of Ben Smith’s A Small Voice Podcast which I would say is undoubtedly the best photography podcast out there. Why? Because in talking to so many different photographers, so much about the medium is revealed - why & how photographers pick up a camera in the first place & how their own experiences & perspectives are inherently tied to the images that they make, for example.

NEWS