Polly Penrose

Penny Penrose

 
The Nude
 
Polly Penrose has been taking self portraits for a few years but had never shown them to anyone until entering this competition. The images come from a series of about twenty that are linked through the idea of fitting in physically to a space. "The images are almost documentation of a performance that no one except myself and the space I'm in is witness to," Polly says.


"I think the fact the images are self portraits give them a certain strength," she says. "They can not be too composed or laboured. They are taken on the camera's self timer and this in turn creates a very raw, honest image. I think a lot of nude images of women focus too much on passivity or sexuality, so I try to make sure that my pictures focus on strength with a little bit of humour. I want them to celebrate a woman's body for its strength and agility as well as its beauty."

Polly studied graphic design at Camberwell College of Art, then went into Fashion Styling, before applying for an MA in Photography. At the same time, she was offered the job of being Tim Walker's Studio Manager, which she loves doing.

Polly has just started work on a project taking nude portraits of pregnant women. "I have been asked to photograph a couple of friends who are expecting," she says, "as they wanted something a little more adventurous than a normal portrait. I've found it both challenging and wonderful to try and entwine a little of the spirit of my self portraits into these. So, if anyone who's reading this is a pregnant lady or knows someone who is and they want a portrait then do get in touch!"

Polly would love to have an exhibition of her photography and sell her work as fine art editions.

Polly Penrose LPA folio