From the series Last of the London Racers by Rachel Beeson
As the Class of 2023 enters a world increasingly defined by images and the complexities of AI, we meet one graduate with a bright future.
Rachel Beeson, 25, is one of nine promising image-makers we are highlighting who are graduating from photography courses across the world. You can meet the others in the July/August issue of the RPS Journal in our celebration of emerging talent.
Beeson, a psychology graduate who has been studying for a Master’s in Socially Engaged Photography at the University of Salford, is particularly proud of her series Last of the London Racers. Here, she explains why.
“I am inspired by the quirkiness of British culture, particularly working-class culture, and tend to embed this in my projects. I’m especially proud of Last of the London Racers, the series I worked on during my foundation year at University of the Arts London, about an old-school racing stadium set to be demolished that year.
“The last of its kind in London, it had been a big part of the community for decades. I’d originally set out to document the stadium itself, but I ended up immersed in the stories of the people who’d frequented it for many years and it felt close to home as my grandad had been one of them.
“That set the tone for the way I wanted to work photographically in the future. I love that photography is a social art form. It’s a powerful tool for empathy, creating a conversation with the public in a way that can bring about a sense of understanding.
“I’m working with Redeye to create a series of talks dedicated to representation in photography. When I graduate I’d love to work for British Journal of Photography and to shoot stories for the Guardian and National Geographic. In my personal practice I would also love to work on a long-term project collaborating with the people around me on a topic we feel is close to us, and then get that work published or exhibited.”
All images from the series Last of the London Racers by Rachel Beeson
The RPS Journal is available exclusively to members. Join us to receive our award-winning magazine and read more inspiring features. Explore full member benefits here.