thomas.duffield

Hearts so full, could not sleep. I made this photograph back in 2020 in my mums garden while she was out at work. Big or small, it’s always special to see an idea brought into the world. Especially when it is so easy to talk ourselves out of pursuing the ideas that both excite and unsettle us. I’ve been waiting for the right time to start sharing more of this project, and though there is more to come from the body of work, I’m honoured to have had the opportunity to write an introduction to Poppy Promises in the latest issue of Granta Magazine @granta_magazine. Making Poppy Promises has been a joy and terror so far, bringing forth frequent encounters with the best and worst parts of myself. It never felt appropriate to throw this work up on instagram, surrendering it to an algorithm that appears to be increasingly cold and indifferent. Although I do appreciate the value in a platform that can cross thresholds and bring artwork to a wider audience. Deep gratitude for Max Ferguson @maxferguson , who saw this work in its early iterations in 2017, and this spring made it possible for me to contextualise and share the latest developments in such a way. This is momentous to me for a number of reasons. Taking into consideration an early school experience that placed an unfair emphasis on spelling, grammar, and punctuation above the creative transmission of ideas; I grew through adolescences feeling inadequate as a communicator…(BTEC crew make some noise in the back) As time past, the incredible team at @baphotohudd who helped nurture a better relationship with reading and writing, and for that I am eternally grateful. Big thanks. Too many people to name, from the lecturers, to the technical staff, and all the brilliant students. Last but not least thanks to my family for their pivotal contributions to the work. Blessed to have them walking patiently with me on this adventure xx #poppypromises #granta #grantamagazine #guinessandaspliff

Great to finally share this. . . This is a big one for me, and in a strange way, this photograph has been four years in the making. . . When I worked on my first project, The Whole House is Shaking, I addressed some aspects of my own family history that were difficult to discuss. Reconnecting with my dad after years of little contact, I began to make work around the subject of his struggle with addiction. We started to meet up regularly for the first time. It was nice to be getting to know more about my dad, hearing him tell stories; generally having a laugh and talking shit about nothing in particular. . . Partly because I wanted to embrace this process of getting to know him, and partly because I was hesitant and weary about making work with him directly; my camera stayed in its bag for years. . . In November, I called him up and told him about an idea I had that involved shaving our hair. I was scared that he would say no, but to my surprise, he was enthusiastic about the idea. He rooted out my grandads old Wahl clippers and I drove round to his house as quickly as I could. . . Forming part of a larger body of work that has been coming together over the past three years, the process has involved a reconciliation of our own vulnerabilities as men. The photograph has been shortlisted for the Wellcome prize 2021 @wellcomephotoprize , under the theme of mental health. . . Through working with my dad, I’ve come to believe that as men, we need to recognise our capacity for both strength and vulnerability; and that being more open about the way we feel is necessary if we want to create better lives for ourselves and the people around us. . . It’s an honour to be part of this award that serves to promote awareness around the current health challenges of our time. . . I’ve a lot more to say about this story but here isn’t the best place. thank you t x #mackfromhome

My grandad earlier in the summer. I’ve never met anyone else that can go through big changes in their life as gracefully as he can. . . I’ll be exhibiting some new photographs tonight 5-8pm @34boarlane for a one night event. If you are in Leeds come along and join us for a drink and a natter. . . The work consists of photographs made during some of the slower days of 2020 (you know those strange and testing months) . . On the walls with fellow Leeds friends @thomaswoodphotography @emryalls @sebsmith____

A wonderful time spent in York for Le Monde’s Travel supplement which published earlier this month. Commissioned for their special issue which highlight’s Le Monde’s top 10 destinations accessible by train from France. Piece written by Hubert Prolongeau @lemondefr

The days of writing seemed to pass by so slowly until at last they were no more. Last month I graduated from the University of Huddersfield with a doctorate for my practice based research project titled ‘Approaching Poppy Promises’ My interest in working with my own family arose in my second year of undergraduate study; in a module titled Narrative, Sequence, and Edit. Turning inwards toward my family’s archive, one evening we went rooting for a box of glossy 6x4’s from beneath my grandma’s stairs. After looking at these photographs with a new perspective I began making pictures of my own. Tugging at threads that would later unfold into an eight year project. Here are some of those pictures - new and old. Deepest gratitude to Dr Liam Devlin, Dr Yan Preston for their supervision during the PhD & to Dr Richard Mulhearn for supervising my early postgraduate study. We’re So lucky to have such an enclave of knowledge and generosity in the charming town. @liamdevln @yanwangpreston @baphotohudd @ahhuddersfield Writing a doctoral thesis was a very challenging and humbling experience. On the days that doubt weighed heavy on my mind the white electric glow of the blank screen seemed to envelope me, giving any preexisting feelings of inadequacy an interesting new hue. Many cold afternoons I had to comfort the little man in slide two and hold his hand through it. I suppose sometimes we just have to get out of our own way. At last the day has come where I can share the research with you. The full title of the thesis is below along with a link to access. Approaching Poppy Promises: Exploring the role of collaboration and performance within photographic practice as a means to ‘listen’ with the camera and negotiate the close proximity of depicting one’s own family life. Link: https://pure.hud.ac.uk/en/studentTheses/approaching-poppy-promises Love love love Tom 🧡

& just like that a month sails on by, with many fond memories left in the wake. Here are some photographs from my latest series Poppy Promises and some other special moments from Hyères. I wanted to say thank you to @villanoailles for providing the space and support for each of us to share our projects during the 39th International Festival of Fashion, Photography and Accessories - Hyères. It was the first time exhibiting a larger selection of the series Poppy Promises. This experience reminded me that there is no better feeling than standing beside a piece of work you have lovingly laboured over and seeing it interface with an audience for the first time. I’m very grateful for all the wonderful conversations. Highlights include some members of the local Hyères fire department gathering around the picture of the burning washing machine to take pictures. Or when myself and an elderly French chap were just about to give up attempting to cross the language barrier, until a print caused him to throw his head back, smile, and exclaim ‘une chatte!’. (a similar response when he saw a picture of Jerry the Horse) Thank you to @magalieguerin and @cssnvs for taking good care of us all and getting the show finished to such a high standard w/ @sheriff.projects Honoured to be in such good company exhibiting alongside @arhantnice @clementboudet_ @laurencekubski @nicolai_chau7 @bgphuma @julie_bourges @furtadigor @kaylaconnors @svertilova Finally, thank you to this years incredible Jury who kindly awarded a mention spéciale and a hand printing mentorship with John McCarthy at @labyrinthphotographicprinting (which I started yesterday 💫) Jury: President: @cococapitan @michaelfamighetti @juancp @coraliegauthier @simonalamep @paulacanovasdelvas @mccarthymoon1 @jeankentagauthier @cecilesayuri @thddcmr Also thank you to @sophiefontanel and @lucienpages for speaking with me and sharing about the project. The exhibition remains up at @villanoailles until the new year, so if you’re close by please come through and spend some time in this special place. Frames 4, 5, 6: @florianpuech Frame 7: @edward_wichard Frame 12: @caro_doliveira Love 🫶🏼

#Hyères39 concours Photographie 📌 Mention spéciale décerné à Thomas Duffield @thomas.duffield La mention spéciale du jury photographie est dotée de : John McCarty accompagnera Thomas Duffield dans l’apprentissage des techniques de tirage argentique couleur chez LLabyrinth photographic printing. Communication digitale @temple.office 📸 @clementharpillard @florianpuech @metropoletpm @culture_gouv @departementduvar @villedhyeres @chanelofficial @le19m @lvmh @wearepremierevision @hermes @latelierdesmatieres @librairie7l @mercedesbenz @defi_la_mode_de_france #federationdelahautecoutureetdelamode @parisfashionweek @americanvintage_official @galerieslafayette @kering_official @premiereclasse.paris @supima @flaxlinenhemp @icicle__official @sheriff.projects @kitten_production @sterlingconseil @givaudan @teintures.de.france ;@ateliermeriguet @audeladucuir @puntoseta @diptyque @debeaulieuparis @palomas1917 @damien.roger @comndiff @domainedelile @fondationcarmignac @reseau_plein_sud @codimatcollection @makes_conceptstore @teintures.de.france #lafrenchtouch #Plasdox @bobcarrelage @saywho.fr @maregionsud @hyerestourisme @madamefigarofr @hantang_culture_official @temple.magazine @boycottmagazine @konbini @jeanpierreblanc1 @pascale_mussard @magalieguerin @julieliger @saeedberkane @benjaminsaulnier

Interview de Thomas Duffield, finaliste du concours photographie du 39e Festival international de mode, de photographie et d’accessoires - Hyères @thomas.duffield Direction image, communication digitale et vidéo @temple.office Tirage et impression @sheriff.projects @metropoletpm @culture_gouv @departementduvar @villedhyeres @chanelofficial @le19m @lvmh @wearepremierevision @hermes @latelierdesmatieres @librairie7l @mercedesbenz @defi_la_mode_de_france #federationdelahautecoutureetdelamode @parisfashionweek @americanvintage_official @galerieslafayette @kering_official @premiereclasse.paris @supima @flaxlinenhemp @icicle__official @sheriff.projects @kitten_production @sterlingconseil @givaudan @teintures.de.france ;@ateliermeriguet @audeladucuir @puntoseta @diptyque @debeaulieuparis @palomas1917 @damien.roger @comndiff @domainedelile @fondationcarmignac @reseau_plein_sud @codimatcollection @makes_conceptstore @teintures.de.france #lafrenchtouch #Plasdox @bobcarrelage @saywho.fr @maregionsud @hyerestourisme @madamefigarofr @hantang_culture_official @temple.magazine @boycottmagazine @konbini @jeanpierreblanc1 @pascale_mussard @magalieguerin @julieliger @saeedberkane @benjaminsaulnier

On a hot and otherwise lazy summer afternoon I sensed an almost electric kind of buzz from the twisted apple branches above. Looking up, a swarm of honeybees clustered busily around the Queen; wrapping around the branch in a formation that shifted and undulated. All the while their scout bees search the area for a suitable new home. My mum‘s partner Andrew has a history in bee keeping so I headed back to the cabin to tell him about the swarm. Jumping up in excitement we shifted into an electric action of our own. He searched for his bee suit while I prepared my camera. After gently removing the branch from the tree with a handsaw, Andrew knocked it down with a short and sharp action, sending the swarm falling into the hive along with their queen. It must have been a satisfactory new abode as the Queen bee decided to stay in the new hive where the colony still remains today. - Honeybee, 2021.

A quiet moment beside the water Kerala, January 2023.

Around a month ago I was awarded a PhD from the University of Huddersfield after five years of postgraduate study. Those of you who know me personally know how challenging this process was at times and I’m so grateful for the family, friends, supervisors, and examiners that made this journey possible. By equal measure, the experience was also incredibly rewarding in so many ways and I’m delighted to have seen the research through to completion. As the writing process took precedence the most challenging thing was to sit still, take a step back from making photographs and commit to a different form of communication. I made less photographs during this time but whenever I did the experience was exalted. I did so with a child like curiosity seeking to reconnect with the simple pleasure of making images with a camera. I didn’t have the time to work through the backlog of negatives back then but I do now. Here are some recent photographs paired with some older favourites. 1. Providence farm, 2023. 2. The lightning tree, 2023. 3. Dad in his Allotment, 2020. 4. Walking home from Dads, 2024. 5. Mum through kitchen window, 2021.

Thomas Duffield @thomas.duffield is a photographer from the north of England, currently based in London. In this interview, Thomas speaks about growing up on a small farm close to Leeds and learning about his father’s struggle with heroin addiction. Read our interview with Thomas Duffield @thomas.duffield in wulmagazine.com → link in bio. #wulmagazine #wulmag #photographer #thomasduffield #photography #analogphotography #filmpgotography #film #analog #documentary #documentaryphotography #artdocumentary #contemporaryphotography