Joshua Keep is opening his first solo exhibition, The North, the other half of England, here at Gallery Frenzy on Friday 6 March 2015. Continuing a proud Foto Frenzy tradition in this our twenty-third exhibition, Josh is one of many first time exhibitors.

Shot on a Mamiya 7 camera using 43mm and 80mm lenses, Josh has exposed Kodak Portra film in both 160 and 400ISO rolls. The negatives were digitally scanned and printed by Andrew Merefield from Living Image Fine Art Printing Service.

A58, A629, Halifax: © Josh Keep.

A mechanical engineer from the Northern Rivers of New South Wales, Josh lived and worked in Huddersfield, England for three years. This was when he completed the project. Although he has usually worked in an analogue black and white format, this Exhibition is shot and shown in colour. It is this use of colour that distinguishes the work exhibited. The documentation of a depressed area in Northern England is enhanced by the clever use of a muted tonal palette.

Human presence is inferred rather than shown, with few people populating his photographs. The built environment is captured with great detail and describes a multi-cultural neighbourhood that is down on its luck. The balance between British tradition and contemporary reality is displayed in gritty realism.

Whilst irony is present (see the ice-cream truck isolated in a moorland environment), Josh has treated his subjects with great respect.

Factory, Holme Valley; © Josh Keep.

The Exhibition opens on 6 March - register your interest on our Facebook page.

Josh will exhibit portion of this Exhibition at this year’s Head On Festival in Sydney. We congratulate Josh and are happy to be his Out-of-Town preliminary performance.

Soft Serve Vender, Hebden Bridge; © Josh Keep.