Downtime

Unlike some of the other galleries, this collection was never planned.

I didn't set out to photograph fishermen in Istanbul, brass bands in New Orleans, football fans in Bilbao or children diving from a pier in Porto. In most cases I simply happened upon them, camera in hand, and recognised something worth remembering.

Downtime means different things to different people. It might be a game of chess on a street corner, an afternoon spent fishing, live music in a crowded square or the now universal ritual of gathering friends together for a selfie.

What connects these photographs is not the activity itself but the freedom behind it. These are moments when work has paused, responsibilities have eased and people are spending time exactly as they choose.

Across countries, cultures and generations, I am continually struck by how familiar these moments feel. The details may differ, but the instinct is universal: to gather, play, compete, celebrate, listen, laugh and simply enjoy being alive.