Borderland: where England meets Wales
Since 2012 I have lived with my family in western Herefordshire. The landscape changes as England meets Wales, from fertile farmland to upland moor and common land. The images in this collection feature everyday scenes found within a few miles of either side of the border as it follows Offa’s Dyke from Hay south to Abergavenny.
I find the borderland exists on the edge of our collective consciousness: in most conversations the geography is unfamiliar and requires detailed explanation. I am drawn to document this sense of forgotten isolation but also to explore the strong feeling of rootedness among its inhabitants and their marked influence on the land.
I often look for evidence of change as the region (somewhat reluctantly) embraces the 21st century and leaves (some) of the old ways behind.
This collection therefore aims to record my deep affection for my borderland home. In many ways it feels to me like a land in between.
For further information on this ongoing project (and a wider selection of images), please visit my website.
UPDATE:
‘Borderland’ limited edition photobook, featuring 36 images selected from the series, coming in 2017!
More information on how to pre-order and win a A4 print via this page:
http://www.stevegrayphotography.com/book/borderland
