For the Info
2023
Jamaica & Her Daughters
Ioney Smallhorne & New Art Exchange
For the Role
Disciplines:
Photography
Sector:
Arts & Culture, Theatre & Live Performance
For the Info
2023
Jamaica & Her Daughters
Ioney Smallhorne & New Art Exchange
For the Role
Disciplines:
Photography
Sector:
Arts & Culture, Theatre & Live Performance
For the Brief
We were commissioned to photograph Jamaica & Her Daughters, an interactive poetry and theatre performance by artist and educator Ioney Smallhorne, developed during her residency at New Art Exchange. The brief was to document the work-in-progress performance with sensitivity and range—capturing Ioney’s movement, expression, interaction with the audience, and the physicality of the performance from multiple angles. The lighting was intentionally dramatic, using theatrical spotlights and coloured gels, requiring a responsive and unobtrusive photographic approach.
For the Style
The photography was documentary-led and performance-focused. Working within a live theatre environment, we leaned into contrast, shadow, and colour created by the stage lighting to preserve the atmosphere of the piece. Images centred on gesture, facial expression, and body language—allowing the emotion and rhythm of the performance to lead the frame. The final set balances wide contextual shots of the space with intimate close-ups, reflecting both the scale and intensity of the work.
For the Feed
For the Result
The final photographs provided Ioney with a strong visual record of the performance and her evolving body of work, supporting future development, promotion, and documentation of the project. The images capture the depth, energy, and theatrical presence of Jamaica & Her Daughters, preserving a moment within the residency that was both personal and powerful.
Photography by ForFourth.