MA Project PHO701 | Belinda James

Prince of Wales Bridge, M4

A significant landmark which I cross to visit my cousin. Opened in 1996, it is what divides and unites us. She is Welsh and I am English.

This is Leigh, the grieving mother.

Caturing the tears, the subject was talking about her daugter. Tears flow freely.
Location: Gelli, Rhonda Valley, Wales

Framed photographs of Leigh's daughter, Becca

Framed images of her daughter, Rebcca Evans, Becca to her family, Bex to her mother and close friends. She died aged 28 of COVID19.
Location: Gelli, Rhonda Valley, Wales

Isolation and loneliness

Mirrored reflection of her feelings. In lockdown, there are visitors to offer comfort. The reflection also mirrors Norwegian Expressionist artist Edvard Munch's Scream in 1893. Expressing uncertainity and anxiety.

Becca's diary

The irony of the front cover and the relation of what a New Year brings, 2020 was Becca's last year.
Location: Gelli, Rhonda Valley, Wales

Becca's last entries.

She contract Weals disease from falling in flood waters and could barely see out of her eye, hence the opticians appointment. Then admitted to hospital whereby she caught COVID19 and died.
Location: Gelli, Rhonda Valley, Wales

The sofa is her refuge.

Leigh sitting on the sofa accompanied by her dogs. She tries to sleep on the sofa but her mind does not shut down. She eats whilst on the sofa. It is a similar characteristics to depression and staring at the four walls. She doesn't tidy on this visit. She hasn't wanted too. Engulfed in grief being comforted by her dog and her daughters dog.
Location: Gelli, Rhonda Valley, Wales

This was Becca's jumper!

"Bex loved this jumper as it was lovely and soft". Something to hold dear, something to hug as it covered the cushion. Lack of physical affection, she resorts to improvisation.
Location: Gelli, Rhonda Valley, Wales

Contents of handbag

Leigh needed support whilst looking into her daughter's handbag. This was the contents. Government guidelines on hand santisation did not help Becca "stay safe".
Location: Gelli, Rhonda Valley, Wales

Alone and reflecting back

Leigh suffers from survival syndrome, as she too escaped her flooded home as 3am. But she did not slip and fall into the infested water, Becca did.
Location: Gelli, Rhonda Valley, Wales

A captured moment of the the hours spent reflecting

Minutes pass into hours, days into weeks. The grieving process has no time limit or agenda.
Location: Gelli, Rhonda Valley, Wales

Toothbrush

When inaminagte objects become prized possessions.
Location: Gelli, Rhonda Valley, Wales

The funeral floral display

Treasured possession, brings sadness, yet holds memories of Becca's life and her achievements, along with her dancing shoes and swimming medals.
Location: Gelli, Rhonda Valley, Wales

Fixation stare

When we look at images, we bring those moments back to life. The occassions, the chatter, the before and after the frozen frame.
Location: Gelli, Rhonda Valley, Wales

The wall display

When photographs become lost in the floods, the beauty of social media is being able to download and print. These are not lost.
Location: Gelli, Rhonda Valley, Wales

With her daughter's ashes

I tried to shot this in the most unobtrusive way as not to invade on the moment.
Location: Gelli, Rhonda Valley, Wales

Leigh, the grieving mother

Facing the reality of every parent's worse nightmare, losing their child. Appearance has little consequence, contrasting to traddtional portraiture.
Location: Gelli, Rhonda Valley, Wales

, to hold.

Increased isolation and hugging her daughter's jumper to feel some comfort.
Location: Gelli, Rhonda Valley, Wales

Becca's mobile phone

An item containing Becca's loves, thoughts and life.
Location: Gelli, Rhonda Valley, Wales

Unconcious self harm

The mark on Leigh's forehead is from distress rubbing subconsciously.
Location: Gelli, Rhonda Valley, Wales

The self harm action

This is how she sits and thinks. Rubbing her forehead. Facing her reflection on the coffee glass table. She has no interest in tidying up. It's irrelavant. She has lost her daughter. Grief holds her with her unbearable pain.
Location: Gelli, Rhonda Valley, Wales

Leigh's living room window view

After being flooded, there is some security in living on a hill, opposed to the bottom of the valley. Gelli, Rhonda, Wales

Taff Street, Gelli, Rhonda Valley

Bunting flapping in the breeze, put out to celebrate, it brightens the streets of the Rhonda.

Leigh walking her dogs along "Hope" stones

Community encouraged to decorate stones along the path. The location is alongside the Rhonda River, Gelli Park bordering Ton Pentre Football Club and Hope English Baptist Church.

Hope Stone path

Communities pull together and decorate stones. Location: Gelli, Rhonda Valley, Wales

Leigh: The death of a child