THE
PHOTOGRAPHY 2025
JOURNAL
Sophie Green
Sophie Green is not easily boxed in. A London-based British documentary photographer, she has spent over a decade exploring the overlooked corners of British culture—spaces where identity, ritual, and belonging take unexpected forms. Her lens gravitates toward communities that exist at the edges of mainstream narratives, such as Aladura Spiritualist churches, banger racing tracks, and Traveller gatherings. In these spaces, she captures not just moments, but the quiet rituals and idiosyncrasies that bind people together.
Known for her bold use of color and graphic detail, Green’s images straddle the line between documentary realism and stylized portraiture. Her work is not just about documenting; it is about collaboration, about meeting her subjects on equal footing and allowing the images to grow out of trust and time. Many of her projects span years, evolving alongside the communities she photographs.
With three published books, including the newly released Tangerine Dreams, and multiple awards to her name, Green’s work is both intimate and expansive. It documents what it means to belong, and the spaces where that belonging is built.
ANSWERS COMING JULY 28
When and how did you get into photography?
What first drew you to life at the margins of British culture as your central subject? Was there a moment or encounter that shifted your focus in that direction?
Many of your projects span several years. What do you think time offers you as a photographer that immediacy can’t?
You describe your process as collaborative. How do you build trust when working with insular or protective communities?
Do you see your work as preserving culture, interpreting it, or simply reflecting it?
There’s often subtle humor in your images. Is that intentional, or something that emerges organically during shooting?
Has a subject or moment ever completely surprised you—visually or emotionally—during a long-term project?
You capture a vibrant mix of portraiture, still life, and environmental detail. How do you decide what deserves focus within a scene?
Color and graphic detail are prominent in your work. Do these elements guide you in the field or emerge during editing?
Do you see yourself more as an observer, a participant, or something in between when you're immersed in these subcultures?
What was the most challenging project in terms of access, trust, or creative risk? How did you navigate it?
You’ve published three books and exhibited internationally. How does sequencing images for a book differ from composing a single frame while shooting?
What do you hope a viewer who’s never stepped into these communities takes away from your work?
Is there a community or project you’re drawn to next, one you haven’t yet explored?
What advice would you give photographers working outside their own lived experience about documenting sensitive or misunderstood cultures?
