Photography students document the changing face of Northampton

Northampton’s rapidly changing urban landscape will be the subject of a free public photographic exhibition at the University of Northampton.

Changing Landscapes: A Work In Progress, will feature stunning images of current major redevelopment sites in the town centre, taken by second-year BA Photography students at the University.

Opening on Wednesday 24 February, the exhibition will focus on projects including the University’s Waterside Campus, pictured, the county council’s new offices and the conversion of the Royal Mail sorting office in Barrack Road into a secondary school.

“This exhibition is incredibly important for Northampton and its residents,” said Kartini Leet, Senior Lecturer in Photography.

“It ensures the major changes the town is currently undergoing will be properly documented for posterity, with the photographs effectively becoming important historical records.

“This is tremendous boost for our undergraduates, who are also benefiting from having their work exhibited for the public to enjoy – so the overall project gives their portfolios a real extra edge.”

Student Benjamin Mensah, who photographed the sorting office, Waterside and works in Delapre Abbey, said: “It’s been a real privilege to be granted behind-the-scenes access to the different sites.

“It’s common to see photography of new buildings when they are finished, but rare to have shots from somewhere between the ‘before’ and ‘after’ stages.

“The derelict buildings we’ve visited are just skeletons and you feel as though you are in the insides of the structure, which is a slightly uncomfortable feeling, and the photography really gets that feeling across.

“This project has been running for three years now and the students involved have managed to document the evolution of Northampton in an artistic manner, so something that could look quite ugly becomes something of visual interest.”

Changing Landscapes: A Work In Progress, opens to the public on Wednesday 24 February and runs until Thursday 3 March at the University’s Avenue Gallery, Maidwell Building, Avenue Campus, St George’s Avenue, Northampton, NN2 6JD.

The gallery is open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm, and on Saturday 27 February, 10am to 1pm (closed Sunday).