Sophie Green’s photograph ‘Fair Ride Twins, Weston-super-Mare Beach’ captures the vibrant energy of a British seaside funfair. Taken in 2021, the image shows twin girls on a fast-moving ride, their matching white T-shirts standing out against a backdrop of bold reds, blues, and yellows. Green recalls, ‘The ride was moving at such a fast pace, I was nervous I wasn’t going to get it in focus.’
The Joy of the Seaside
Green describes the British seaside as having a distinctive look, with bingo halls, buckets and spades, pinwheels, and the colourful funfairs. ‘I find them the most amazing environments. I love that visually super-charged, maximalist style,’ she says. The seaside evokes nostalgia for her, reminding her of visits to her grandpa in Pembrokeshire. ‘The beach provokes this childlike sense of wonderment. It is a space that anyone can be a part of, friends and family, whatever age, whatever background.’
She believes the seaside unlocks a connection to nature, inspiring freedom and fun. ‘There are not really any rules, and it’s playful – the funfairs, the arcades, splashing in the water. We don’t have many outlets for play, especially as adults.’
Capturing the Moment
Green started photographing the British seaside during the Covid lockdown, when beaches became spaces for people to gather. ‘It was very hard during that period to make any work since all of my documentary projects are about belonging, shared heritage, and spaces where groups of people gather,’ she explains. The project has now entered its sixth year, and she returns to it every summer. ‘There are thousands of miles of coastline so it’s a very interesting way of seeing Britain. People from all walks of life can end up sitting side by side and have this shared experience.’
Broader Documentary Work
Green’s projects often begin serendipitously. In 2014, she stumbled upon Wimbledon Stadium and discovered banger racing, leading to a decade-long photographic exploration. ‘Congregation’ started from observing Black-majority churches in Southwark, while ‘Gypsy Gold’ began after watching ‘My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding’ and suspecting a richer story beneath the sensationalised portrayal. Her work highlights subcultures and the layered nature of British identity.
Exhibition and Career Highlights
Green’s exhibition ‘Tangerine Dreams: Rituals of Belonging in Contemporary British Life’ runs at the Martin Parr Foundation in Bristol from 4 June to 6 September. She calls it a career high point: ‘It’s my third photography book, bringing together a decade of my documentary work. Seeing that body of work realised, and now shown as a solo exhibition, has been a really significant moment.’
Her advice to aspiring photographers: ‘Figure out what you want to say, what you care about, and what you’re excited to explore. Devote and dedicate yourself to it. Keep taking pictures. Stay true to your vision and trust your instincts. Seek out novelty, and for heaven’s sake, stay curious.’
