Sophie Green discusses her photograph of twins on a spinning ride at a funfair in Weston-super-Mare, taken in 2021 as part of her ongoing project documenting the British seaside. The image captures the intense colors and joyful atmosphere of seaside leisure, which she began photographing during the Covid lockdown when beaches became vital gathering spaces. Green's broader documentary work explores themes of belonging, shared heritage, and subcultures, including projects on banger racing, Black-majority churches in South London, and Irish Traveller horse fairs.
This article matters because it highlights how a contemporary photographer uses the quintessentially British seaside as a lens to examine community, play, and identity in an increasingly individualistic society. Green's project, now in its sixth year, underscores the enduring appeal of public spaces where people from diverse backgrounds share experiences. Her upcoming exhibition and book, "Tangerine Dreams," consolidates a decade of documentary work, reinforcing the role of photography in capturing overlooked social narratives and subcultures that shape British identity.