The Photographer Writes – Chris TREGENZA

Pic(s) Of The Week 2023-03-23

For the last two or three weeks I’ve haven’t at my best photography-wise. I wasn’t taking bad photos but I wasn’t getting anything which excited me. This partly comes down to the nature of what I’ve been photographing has been largely dictated by my journalistic work it’s need for a more documentary approach. However this … Read morePic(s) Of The Week 2023-03-23
Kegworth Anti-Migrant Protest 2023-03-18

On Saturday the usual band of racists descend on the Kegworth Yew Lodge hotel to vent their ignorance at the migrants inside. It was absolutely pissing it down for the hour I was there and credit to the racists, they didn’t slack off. Normally the far-right are lightweights and disappear to the pub at the … Read moreKegworth Anti-Migrant Protest 2023-03-18
Student Sit-In

Radical students occupied the Vice-Chancellor’s office in the Trent Building of Nottingham University. They had planned to be there for several days but the University immediately served them with an eviction notice. A rather heavy-handed response and part of an increasing tendancy for universities to stifle dissent.
Pic(s) Of The Week 2023-03-16

Pretty slim pickings this week as I hadn’t any events to cover other than a few picket lines and other commitments have kept me away from going out just hunting for photos. It’s also been either raining or overcast all week so there’s not been much light to work with. What I have been doing … Read morePic(s) Of The Week 2023-03-16
Pic(s) Of The Week 2023-03-09

After a couple of very busy weeks with protests, this week has been a lot slower. Which is great because it allows me a chance to catch up with other work but my choice of photos is rather thin this week. The featured image is of Brian in the snow. We’ve had 24 hours of … Read morePic(s) Of The Week 2023-03-09
DIY Poets 2023-03-08

We spent an evening listening to all women poetry event for International Women’s Day 2023. The nature of photographing this sort of event is that there are a limited number of possible shots and you are very dependent on the expressiveness of the performers.
Iran Nottingham 2023-03-05

Women! Life! Freedom! is a the rallying cry of the resistance movement in Iran and it also echoes around the streets of Nottingham city centre. A small but highly active and vocal campaign group in Nottingham is supporting the Iranian resistance. In the run-up to International Women’s Day the group held a march and protest … Read moreIran Nottingham 2023-03-05
Pic(s) Of The Week 2023-03-02

Its a demanding week with fascists and being attacked as well as marches for Ukraine and the NEU. Consequently my focus hasn’t been on the joy of photography but its function so rather than focus on the unpleasantness I’ve encountered this Pic(s) of the Week is all positive. Maybe not my best photos but the … Read morePic(s) Of The Week 2023-03-02
NEU Strike Day March & Rally

The latest strike day in the NEU on-going dispute with the Government over pay and conditions saw a march and rally in Nottingham. Starting on the Forest Fields rec and heading into town down Mansfield Road the event got a lot of attention. The teachers were loud and buoyant and full of energy.
Novotel Long Eaton Racists & Counter-Demo 2023-02-25

The Novotel Long Eaton, halfway between Nottingham and Derby, is being used to house migrants and has become a target in the recent wave of anti-migrant protests. The event was promoted by Yorkshire Rose, a prominent racist YouTuber. Local pro-refugee groups along with trade unions and other campaigners formed an counter-protest. Around 150 counter-protesters turned … Read moreNovotel Long Eaton Racists & Counter-Demo 2023-02-25
Ukraine 1 Year Vigil 2023-02-24

On a cold Friday night, around 200 Ukrainian people and supporters gathered to remember the 20,000 Ukrainian troops and civilians who have died in the 12 months since the invasion. It was a bitter-sweet event for around twenty of us who had gathered the year before, on the night of the invasion. As the war … Read moreUkraine 1 Year Vigil 2023-02-24
Pic(s) of the Week 2023-02-23

A busy week with around 250 photos taken on Friday, 1200 photos taken on Saturday and the usual opportunistic shots as I wander around. Such as the featured image above. A couple of young cyclists were practicing their tricks in the Market Square. The light was good so I stopped and spoke to them before … Read morePic(s) of the Week 2023-02-23
Brianna Ghey Vigil, Nottingham 2023-02-17

A sad event, in memory of Brianna Ghey who was brutally murdered. It was an event that touched the trans community deeply with all of them thinking “that could of been me”. I covered the event for Open Nottingham and the it was a challenging situation for photography, partly due to the poor lighting in … Read moreBrianna Ghey Vigil, Nottingham 2023-02-17
Racists In Rotherham

February 18th 2023. Manvers, Rotherham. Fascist organisation Patriotic Alternative called for a demonstration outside the Holiday Express hotel which was housing a number of refugees. This was following from a small protest in Mansfield and a large, violent protest in Knowsley in the preceding week. A counter protest was organised by Rotherham TUC and the … Read moreRacists In Rotherham
Jubilee Sunset

By chance I was walking through the Jubilee Campus, Nottingham, just as there was a glorious sunset. I’ve always loved the innovative buildings of that campus, though they have taken a lot of flak from architects and locals alike. However, the light was catching the buildings in a way I’ve not seen before and I … Read moreJubilee Sunset
Pic(s) of the Week 2023-02-16

A relatively quiet week photographically with just two events to cover which had limited scope creative image making. This week’s featured photo (above) is not the best photo I’ve taken but it is certainly the most wildly seen. My images from Mansfield picked up for an article in the Byline Times which and this image … Read morePic(s) of the Week 2023-02-16
UCU Strike Day & March

As part of their on-going action, members of the UCU at Nottingham University held a loud march around the campus just as perspective students were visiting with their parents. Full write-up on Open Nottingham.
Mansfield Anti-Racism 2023-02-11

After a gang of far-right thugs harassed refugees in a Mansfield hotel, local anti-racism campaigners gather in the town’s Market Place to show that the fascists do not speak for the majority of the residents. The response from the people of Mansfield was amazing with a constant stream of shoppers stopping to sign petitions and … Read moreMansfield Anti-Racism 2023-02-11
Pic(s) of the Week 2023-02-09

A mixed bag this week as I had no specific events to photograph or projects to work on other than Nottingham’s Light Night which was a bit of bust. The photo featured image is one of the Ningbo Lions at Nottingham University, a venue which features in several of this week images. Walking back through … Read morePic(s) of the Week 2023-02-09
Bennerley Viaduct

At the start of January I was planning to visit Ilkeston and call in at the nearby viaduct on my way home but when I opened the curtains that morning the sun was out. Not wanting to miss the light I changed my plans and headed straight to Bennerley. It was the right call as … Read moreBennerley Viaduct