Sunday – soul of the other days?  Philip Richter

The photo essay, Sunday, was fuelled by curiosity to find out more about the so-called ‘continental Sunday’ and, also, by the desire to explore alternative models as to how Sunday could be spent. It focussed on 3 locations, in Italy, France and the Outer Hebrides. Photography has inherent limitations as a research tool: it is a snapshot of time that may or may not be representative of other moments; it cannot communicate the complexities of social relationships; and its images are ambiguous. But photography also added unique dimensions to the project. It helped to visualise and evoke differences between the 3 contexts; it depicted some of the emotions associated with Sunday, in people’s expressions and body language; and it gave the viewer visual material that not only illustrated the written text but, potentially, enabled the viewer to question or add to it on the basis of what he or she herself saw. The photography was complemented by more traditional social analysis. Although each research approach yielded subtly different perspectives, it was apparent that they were mutually enhancing.

Copies of the Photo Essay are available from Sarum College Bookshop or direct from Blurb.com.