Lauren Henry - Women in Photography

Lauren Henry by Toni-Marie Henry

Eighteen-year-old Lauren Henry from Moss Side in Manchester studied Photography GCSE under Rene Lumley and Howard Fisher’s CIC Creative Arts and Minds. By her own admission she was a difficult student. Now she uses her experience as a teacher shadowing Rene & H to inspire secondary pupils. She’s determined to make it in the Photography world. Recently she visited the 209 Women exhibition and asked the curator, Hilary Wood questions about how she put together the exhibition.

It’s a credit to Rene & H that they are inspiring a new generation of female photographers by improving access to cultural opportunities.

Lauren is interested in activism and feminism and is determined to make a difference through her teaching and Photography.

What was your journey into Photography and how does Photography make you feel?

My journey into photography was a rollercoaster. I was a very bad kid. Even when I was a little girl I wanted to take the pictures and not be in them. When another naughty kid got chosen to do Photography GCSE at school and not me I was so annoyed. I begged and begged for a year to do it and finally got chosen.

Is Photography what you want to pursue as a career path?

Homeless by Lauren Henry

Yes. Most definitely. I need a part time job to support my journey into it fully, to launch myself and buy kit - but I am determined.

Can you tell me about your teaching role supporting Rene & Howard from Creative Arts & Minds?

I use my experience of doing the course to figure out and understand how the course and the approach that H and Rene use in getting students engaged and I use this to my advantage as now I am a bit older and out of the school environment. When I was a pupil the kids I currently teach were proper scared of me so they know that I know every trick in the book. Now I am a different person, have a changed attitude and a staff pass! And my voice is now listened to.

Can you talk to me about a particular exhibition that has inspired you?

JENGbA Protest by Lauren Henry

Tony Mallon’s exhibition from the LOOK exhibition in Liverpool about the homeless. Rene and H organised for me to meet him he did a crit of my work. He treated me like a proper photographer and was really helpful and motivated me. Also Rene’s work. I like how she makes women feel comfortable in their own bodies in her photographic work. I know when I was younger I felt very insecure and unconfident in my own skin so to have that gift of empowerment is amazing. I find her work inspiring.

Which female photographers do you admire?

I like the work of Cindy Sherman, how she does her self-portraits, playing with characters. However in saying that, it can appear sometimes a bit of a gimmick. My style is more documentary and street photography. I love the work of Shirley Baker. I find her work all about emotion and capturing that moment in time. Although I am from a completely different generation I can really relate to the work she did in the 60’s and 70’s around Manchester and Salford, even though I wasn’t yet born! I remember sitting on the front step and playing kerby and queuing at the ice-cream van!

Can you tell me a bit more about your homeless project?

Justice for Dean Winston by Lauren Henry

My homeless work came about from the GCSE exam question ‘Shelter’. I first thought about making kids' dens, but when I thought a bit deeper, I revisited my interest in homelessness. Everyone deserves a roof above their head. It’s a basic human right. I visited a homeless centre in Manchester called Cornerstone with Sister Edith who does a lot of work with the homeless and once chained herself to the railings of Manchester Town Hall in protest for the rights of homeless people. Rene, my photography teacher has encouraged me so much to frame my beliefs in a political way through photography. I learned how to be respectful and not pushy with my photography which helps people trust you and that you are not there to exploit them or make them feel awkward. I talked to many homeless people and asked permission to photograph them. Their stories were fascinating - the people were from all walks of life and from different cultural backgrounds, young and old women and men. I learned so much. It was nice to see how much effort the staff and volunteers helping people back into society.

You recently photographed a protest and have a new interest in feminism. Could you tell me a bit more about this?

Innocent by Lauren Henry

The protest project is more of a personal project for me. It was inspired by my cousin who is in prison for murder. I went to London to understand what other families are going through when their loved ones are charged with guilt by association. The protest groups have named themselves JENBA (Joint Enterprise Not Guilt By Association). My cousin was present when a boy got knifed and he died. My cousin had no idea that this was going to happen, but still got sentenced with murder.

My political views have been shaped and realised by my involvement with photography and my love of it. Photography has given me my political, social and individual creative voice.

Growing up in a house full of strong, independent women has influenced me. My Mum worked and brought up her family mostly alone. My Dad followed a more traditional at the time ‘man’ role of leaving the bringing up of the kids to the women and seeing us at the weekend. I have learned that I can be anything I want to be without depending on anyone else. I believe strongly that women deserve the same rights, equal pay and opportunities as men.