Grey Area | noun

An ill-defined situation or area of activity not readily conforming to a category or set of rules.

In 2021, amidst a global lockdown, I embarked on a year-long project documenting the results of governmental restrictions and publicity campaigns in rural Cornwall. My first monograph, "A Grey Area," also explores the notable shift toward authoritarianism by the police and the local authorities. Despite ongoing restrictions, the announcement of the G7 summit being held in Carbis Bay compelled me to turn my camera towards the rapid conversion of homes, beaches, and public spaces into heavily fenced and policed areas - the G7 was also the likely cause of a ‘super-spreading’ event.

NO PHOTOGRAPHY

As someone whose duty involves recording and witnessing events, documenting a small piece of the pandemic jigsaw became a significant task for me. Navigating through various key locations presented multiple restrictions. I captured these moments with a Hasselblad Xpan, where I thought it was most effective. While taking these particular images, a security guard approached me and warned that photographing on the premises would result in me being denied a vaccine. This was emblematic of a pattern that persisted for an entire year – even the part-time security personnel were acting as self-appointed enforcers, making an already challenging situation more difficult because they didn't understand the law.