26-mile walk shines a light on River Itchen

A graduating BA (Hons) Photography student, Roxanne's FMP saw her walk all 26 miles of the River Itchen. Entitled Icene and taking inspiration from award-winning photographer, Yan Wang Preston's Mother River, Roxanne's FMP highlights the way Southampton's well-known river is becoming polluted.

Through black and white film photography, Roxanne showcases the River Itchen in its urban setting, asking viewers to consider the impact of its surroundings while celebrating its unusual beauty. On the experience of walking the length of the river, Roxanne says:

"A large amount of these walks along the river, and trips back to photograph it, I was completely alone. I felt like I was able to really develop a connection with both the landscape and my camera, and this connection and understanding helped shape the way I composed my photographs."

Roxanne grew up in Watford, before moving to Southampton to attend Solent University. Studying photography at university has been instrumental for her practice:

"It's been an amazing experience and helped me gain technical skills, industry experience and great connections. Solent has been a huge help in developing as a photographer, especially within my technical skills and understanding.

"Learning to understand how each element of the camera works together to create the photograph has been incredibly helpful in me making high quality images."

In 2020, The Rivers Trust released a report which showed that no river in England or Wales was classed as being in good overall health. For Roxanne, her inspiration for this project was clear:

"Pollution is such a growing issue and it's only getting worse. Every river in Britain is now polluted and it means that younger generations will suffer if something isn't done about it soon."

Roxanne's black and white photographs were taken with a 5x4 film camera over a period of 12 weeks. Her hope is that the project showcases the impact humans are having on the river, while at the same time capturing its essence across the 26-mile stretch. 

On the high quality of work by graduating students at Solent, Course Leader Photography, Nina Sverdvik says:

"Every year I ask myself the same question: how do our students, year after year, make new and incredible photographs that reflect our time? Having exclusive access to a wide range of equipment and experts in the field of photography, they are encouraged to use their individual voices to explore the world as they see it and to be brave, curious, and creative in their approaches. As a result, they work they produce is unapologetic, engaging and unique; just as they are."