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Sophie Green

Sophie Green (B. 1991) is an English Photographer Known for exploring the often-over-looked margins of British culture having a focus on communities and subcultures. Green is a London-based documentary photographer working across the United Kingdom where through her lens she aims to shine a respectful light on a variety of underrepresented communities that are often stereotyped, misjudged or overlooked.

Her work highlights and uncovers the traditions and culture of these underrepresented communities and subcultures aiming to unite individuals and break societal norms strengthening and emphasizing their identity. Her work spans subjects such as Aladura Spiritualist churches, traveller culture, beach culture, etc, which all reveal the humanity in stories about belonging and connection.

Gypsy Gold

Her project ‘Gypsy Gold’ is a picture series that celebrates the lives and culture of British Travelers, a group which is often and has been misrepresented by the media. Sophie Greens goal with this series was to break those barriers which were created by capturing raw un-staged photographs of their everyday lives and traditions, Sophie steers away from cliches and instead tries to use her work as a way to combat stereotypes and try to morph any negative perceptions people have about British Travellers. Her projects are a platform that celebrates these individuals and culture rather than stigmatizing them.

Sophie Green believes that photography should capture life as it is, without staging or retouching any of her images, bringing out the true essence of her subjects and their surroundings, representing them authentically. The dedication to ensuring authenticity ensures her photographs capture the true essence of her subjects and their cultures, by having a primary focus on capturing true unfiltered moments it allows Sophie Green to properly represent and showcase underrepresented communities providing a raw, authentic look into British Traveler day-to-day life and traditions that feels real and respectful, bridging the gap between her subjects and the audience.

Congregation

Her project ‘Congregation’ is a picture series celebrating the Aladura Spiritualist African congregations in south-east London where even though the faith has become significant within parts of London, this project focuses on Southwark which holds the highest concentration of African Churches outside the continent which has rarely been documented. Within this photo series Sophie Green explores the vibrant world of Aldura Churches and brings light to this form of Christianity with roots from Nigeria. Sophie Green throughout the project was able to capture and portray the intricate rituals embracing the spirituality while giving the audience a glimpse into this often-overlooked subculture within London and the religious life.

Sophie Green’s approach towards photography with her emphasis on bold colour, moments of humour makes her portraits of still life almost come to life which allows viewers to feel connected with the subjects allowing us feel and imagine the deeper narratives feeling the spirituality.

Sophie Green published a book for ‘congregation’ where she captured this photo series and symbolised it shining the deserved light on their identity and power within subcultures and practices in the modern world.