Portraits Project

 News 

BSU 100 Portraits Project 

Friday, 4 October, 2024

Throughout 2024, staff and students from the BA Photography degree course based at our Locksbrook campus are collaborating with the BSU Communications and Brand team to produce and curate an innovative and unique snapshot of Bath Spa University’s diverse community.  

‘BSU 100 portraits’ is a creative project to capture images and stories of the people who live, work and study across Bath Spa University throughout 2024.

One unique aspect of the project is that the team is using traditional film and processes to produce large format photography, with all images taken with a large format 5x4 camera, owned by Bath Spa University.  

James Arthur Allen, BSU Senior Lecturer BA Photography, and ‘BSU 100 portraits’ project lead said:   

“In a fast-paced digital world, where we can take a hundred photos in an instant, there is something unique and special about the experience of sitting for a portrait photograph using traditional methods, where each image takes time to set up, craft, position and capture. The role of the photographer is to make the portrait sitter feel at ease and to photograph them in their true and authentic self. For each of the 100 Portraits, we will document the person, but also capture the story of who they are. By the end of the year, we will have curated a comprehensive photographic body of work which would look to record and interview key members of the staff and student communities across the campuses and schools of the University.”  

Lucy Stone, Head of Communications and Brand Development said:

‘As BSU approaches its 20th anniversary as a university in 2025, we wanted to mark the occasion and celebrate this milestone in our university’s history in a way which really captures who we are as a community and institution today. Each of the beautiful portrait images tells a unique story of a person who is a part of the fabric of BSU. '

The BSU ‘100 portraits’ project team is capturing images and stories until November 2024, with an exhibition featuring all 100 images displayed at the Michael Pennie gallery at our Locksbrook campus from the end of November until Christmas.   

The ‘100 Portraits’ and the accompanying stories will also be available to view on the BSU website and social media channels throughout 2025, and it is planned that the exhibition will also go on display at our other campuses and sites in the coming year. There are also plans to produce a book of the images which will be available to purchase.

If you’re interested in being part of the Portraits Project, get in touch with communications@bathspa.ac.uk