Our final visit was to the fish and chip shop, The Great Yorkshireman. When I originally moved to the area, it was known as Tracy’s Plaice, before it became the less pun worthy name it is now, but somewhat better for it.

The current owners, a local family team, have been there for 8 months, but have already managed to improve on business by catering more for their immediate environment, local businesses such as the Border Agency up the road. And also occasionally for my tea, I can say with satisfaction, they do make some damn fine fish and chips.

Now that the project is reaching it’s conclusion, I am concentrating on putting the book together ready for the exhibition. We spent the final two sessions editing down our images and writing up the interviews we’d conducted with each business. I’m looking forward to seeing the fruits of our labour!

What a character Lez is! A gents hairdresser, 25 years in Kirkstall, his shop is quite the statement on Kirkstall Road. He is a friendly chap, with quite the banter, and this is proven with his loyal clientele.

His shop is a photographers dream, quirky and full of character. For a story, Lez is an anthology of tales, he has a history dating back quarter of a decade in this area, and has heard voices from a variety of folk, and faced many changes.

I’m looking forward to seeing our images as a collective, it’s already apparent what differences people pick up on, even when faced with the same subject.

With only business left to visit, the project is approaching it’s conclusion.

We visited Kirkstall Brewery on Thursday, which was a real delight to photograph. The guys working there are a lovely bunch and didn’t seem to mind us getting in the way whilst they went about their work. It’s quite a busy workplace with lots going on, brewing the beer, building new tanks, getting deliveries ready to travel the country, cleaning out the returned casks, making cups of tea. I have noticed, without any surprise, how important a good cuppa is in the UK workplace, and unless it’s my fixation with how a nice cup of tea can get me through a stressful shift, I always notice the brewing station, and in the brewery I don’t mean the tanks!

Photographing the brewery was quite exciting, there is so much to look at and take notice of, all the little parts that keep the big cog churning. The guys who work for the brewery love their job and talked with passion about their journey, even those who stumbled upon the trade, were happy with their employment. But with any independent business, such as this micro brewery, without that passion the product will fail and lose its charm, and that’s what keeps the interest alive.

Our next visits will be to Lez Robinz gents hairstylist and The Great Yorkshireman fish & chips shop.

Today we went to the Kirkstall Abbey Market, which is held the last weekend of the month, so this weekend had a very Christmas feel to it. We spoke to many of the independent stall holders, with wares ranging from sweets, cakes, honey and clothes, and many were happy to be photographed and to take part in the project. I’d like to go back again in the New Year and spend some money on the delicious looking food!!

We also looked at the previous photographs we took at Hollybush and Spa & Beauty First. I talked about editing down their photographs before the final 2 workshops, as we have to choose 6 images for the exhibition and with over 600 images to choose from already, that’s going to be quite a task!

Our next stop is Kirkstall Brewery, one which I am looking forward to visiting.

We felt very welcomed by Natalie & Sophie, the sisters who run the beauty salon, on our visit to photograph here. I’m not really clued up on beauty treatments, but the salon offers many, such as waxing, nails, eyebrows and facials. Spa & Beauty First on Kirkstall Road are renowned for their window displays, something which has been a feature since their first birthday a couple of years ago. This year they’ve opted for a traditional Christmas display.
I had one student for this visit, and I’d asked her to come up with some questions to ask, which she did very well on.

It’s quite a contrast to the muddy boots and outdoors at Hollybush, but that’s the delight of the project. Next stop, Kirkstall Abbey Market.

The project I’m leading at Abbey House, part of the Yorkshire a Exhibition, took us to Hollybush Conservation centre and their Christmas Craft Market today.
It was our first outing to photograph a place of work, and it certainly was a lovely place to start. There were a few nerves to begin with, it was a busy bustling place, but everyone eased into it. I think, without doubt, there will be some lovely photographs to take away from the day. I put my two students on the spot with asking questions, but I feel they did fine, and we got the voice of the subject, which George Walker failed to ask for.
Next workplace is Spa & Beauty First, a contrast to the earthiness of Hollybush, but one that will be equally enjoyable to photograph.