Offspring Photo Meet Best Portfolio Award 2024

‘You Felt the Roots Grow’ is a deeply personal reflection on the intertwined cycles of life and loss. The author juxtaposes the joy of her sister becoming a mother with the pain of her father's declining health, reshaping her understanding of time and life’s fragility. Nature, especially the forest’s slow cycle of growth and decay, became a source of solace during this turbulent period, mirroring the illness altering her reality. After her father’s passing, grief and fading memories brought challenges, but sharing her story provided strength and hope. The ongoing renewal of the forest symbolises the possibility of life after loss. Published in 2023 by Ciao Press and Witty Books, the work is both a homage and a testament to resilience.

‘Not What You Saw’ is an ongoing project spotlighting female bodybuilders from South India who challenge entrenched gender roles and beauty norms by embracing physical strength—an attribute historically linked to masculinity. In a culture where muscular women remain rare, these athletes navigate societal pressures to conform to traditional femininity while contending with caste, class, and regional disparities. The project also reflects broader issues in sports, such as debates on gender definitions, highlighted at the Paris Olympics, and the discrimination female athletes face for their perceived "masculine" traits. These bodybuilders disrupt mainstream portrayals of women as objects of desire adhering to Western beauty standards, forcing a re-examination of femininity and attractiveness in South Indian society. By challenging conventional notions of strength, gender, and beauty, Not What You Saw celebrates these trailblazing women and calls for a cultural shift toward more inclusive and diverse representations of womanhood.

‘Coasting’ is a photographic exploration of England’s coastline, inspired by the divisive rhetoric following Brexit. Seeking unity and understanding, Imogen Forte travelled the coast during the summer, documenting the people and places she encountered. Through personal yet universally relatable images, Forte aimed to celebrate British culture’s diversity while challenging preconceptions. With hindsight, she noticed an air of tentativeness in many portraits, reflecting the uncertainty of the era.