2024 PADC Student Skulls Awards

Photography

The Brief:

Timeless Treasures: Celebrating the diversity of ageing through photography.

My series of photographs, based on my grandma, earnt me the Student Skull Award for photography in 2024. Below is my rationale, which describes the meaning and purpose of the series.

Joy

People make many negative assumptions towards older people, including the idea that they are frail and vulnerable people who are unable to learn new things, or remain active and independent. This day in the life series of my grandma, Joy, challenges these beliefs, sharing her inspiring, fulfilling and active lifestyle within her close community of friends.

Learning new things and improving a variety of skills, as well as engaging in social activities often keeps your brain active and boosts your cognitive health- so discouraging older adults from doing so damages their health, supporting negative stereotypes. My grandma, always eager to learn, represents a community of intelligent, lively and motivated people. My series depicts her love of art, and engagement in the community of artists located in the Margaret River region. I am often inspired by her practice, as she was initially told in her 40s as a mature aged student that she would never be a fashion designer because she cannot draw. Despite this, after selling her hat shop in her 60s, she begun art classes and now successfully exhibits and sells her work. She goes to weekly art classes with a group of close friends, taught by her lovely teacher, Cate, pictured in my series.

Other assumptions include the idea that older adults need to avoid exercise and physical activity- that they are fragile, and need to be protected. This unintentionally patronising treatment often threatens older adults’ autonomy and independence. Despite these stereotypes, many older adults I know, including my grandma, have an inspiring sense of ambition, motivation, and awareness of their health. My photographs depict my grandma, 80 years old, with her group of friends swimming at Yallingup beach- a tradition that has continued for 18 years, 3 times a week at 7:00am, throughout summer and winter. After swimming they all pour jugs of warm water over themselves, and then have coffee together at the nearby café. They even have matching fluffy jumpers to wear after a swim. As a 21-year-old, getting up so early, in the middle of winter, at 80 years old sounds insane and impressive! The community that my grandma has formed around her hobbies and interests, such as her committed cold plunges (which she swears aren’t that cold) have no doubt benefitted her physical and mental health. Her motivation and community-mindedness are traits that I greatly admire, and love to share with others.

This series of my grandma challenges the stereotypes about older people previously outlined, empowering older adults by depicting the opposite. It shows her motivated, determined personality, and her involvement in an active community of kind, supportive friends. This makes a huge difference to her health. I created the series in admiration of these qualities, with the idea that others, including younger people would likewise feel inspired by her passion for life and older adults feel empowered. Younger people can learn more than they think from older adults, through the wisdom and insight they have gained from a lifetime of experiences.