"I always maintain I was fortunate to be born when I was, because in the 1960s we believed a revolution was possible. I was working with people who thought it was possible to change the situation the country was in. It was invigorating and exciting. I still think that is necessary, it still exists today. It's particularly interesting now to see issues to do with race, gender and sexual identification coming forward and being expressed strongly. That's very encouraging. I still believe we can change the world."
The words of Nick Hedges, from a 2023 interview with the British Journal Of Photography's Diane Smyth - a fitting epitaph for the documentary photographer, who died recently.
Hedges' fervent conviction that photography can make a material difference, and his vital work for Shelter (belatedly showcased in the Bluecoat book Home), came up in conversation in Wednesday night's book group meeting up at the Workers Gallery - perhaps inevitably, given that the focus was on Marc Davenant's Outsiders project on homelessness and substandard housing, images and text from which are currently on display.
In the face of challenging and relentlessly depressing circumstances, some would brand Hedges' optimistic outlook naively idealist. But what's the alternative - succumbing to apathy or sneering cynicism? Surely it's better to have the courage of your convictions and cling to the possibility that you might have a genuine impact.
The article I wrote on Home for Buzz back in 2021 remains one of the pieces I'm most proud of, and it wouldn't have worked anywhere near as well without Hedges' contributions. He was generous with his time and remarkably modest - and will hopefully continue to serve as a source of inspiration for photographers keen to use their chosen artform as a means of combating injustice.
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