Gallery
Gallery
Gallery
Animals & Wildlife
Animals & Wildlife
Animals & Wildlife
Animals & Wildlife
Animals & Wildlife
Animals & Wildlife
Animals & Wildlife
Gallery
Gallery
Gallery
Gallery
Gallery
Gallery
Digital Work
Analogue Work
EYM Project
Projects
On this page, you will find projects I have been involved with or that are currently in progress.
Some of these projects were be part of my studies towards my MA Photography.
These will be updated regularly so keep coming back to see the progress.
Sea What Develops
STARTING
The Sea What Develops Project is an exploration into sustainable analogue photography, using locally sourced seaweed from Shetland to create natural film developers. Rooted in environmental responsibility and traditional darkroom practices, the project aims to reduce reliance on chemical developers by harnessing the natural properties of marine materials.
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By systematically testing various species of seaweed with different types of photographic film, I am working to develop a comprehensive chart of eco-friendly developing techniques. This initiative not only deepens my creative practice but also contributes to the wider movement toward sustainable artmaking.
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The project is proudly endorsed by the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, highlighting the intersection of environmental science and creative innovation—and the vital role artists can play in ocean stewardship.
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This work has been made possible with thanks to a grant from VACMA, in partnership with Shetland Arts and Creative Scotland.
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Results will be shared publicly as an open resource for photographers and educators committed to reducing their ecological impact.
Shetland in a Can
IN PROGRESS
Shetland in a Can is a collaborative photographic project by Chris G Smith and Shetlander Iain Derbyshire, exploring the landscape of the Shetland Islands through a unique and time-intensive project. Using repurposed beer cans turned into pinhole cameras, we are capturing the islands in a raw, elemental way.
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A central part of the project involves the creation of solargraphs—long-exposure images captured over days, weeks, or even months. These exposures record the path of the sun across the sky, layering time into a single frame and revealing hidden patterns of light and shadow that are invisible to the naked eye. The slow nature of this process is a quiet reflection of Shetland’s rhythm—shaped by weather, isolation, and the turning of seasons.
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By combining analogue techniques with environmental awareness and patience, Shetland in a Can offers a meditative visual diary of place, time, and transformation.
Enthusing Young Minds
COMPLETE
The phone has become the “go to” device for most things, including photography. With the magic of traditional photography at risk to being lost into the history books.….
It wasn’t until my late teens that I met a girl who introduced me to photography. The spark was instant and photography quickly became my outlet. I had found a new way to express myself like I had never been able to before.
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With exploration into film photography and darkroom work, I realised the art of the historical methods. I watched an image come to life for the first time in the developing tray right before my eye. This was the moment that photography took hold of my imagination.
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Enthusing Young Minds serves to give as many children as possible in my local area the opportunity to experience this for themselves. Allowing them the opportunity to learn more about the origins, chemistry, and artistry behind the historical methods of photography. Enabling them to see beyond their mobile phones to take photos. This project will also aim to instil the transferable employability skills of patience, resilience and creative problem solving. In the current, extremely competitive job climate; these are essential skills for all young people to have.
Micro Project - Farm to Plate
COMPLETE
Our recent change in locality from the city to the countryside has led to us to be surrounded by farmland. As a family we have always been conscious of our eating habits. We have always aimed to eat sustainably and being amongst the farms has made more aware of how our food is produced and where it comes from, specifically the agricultural food cycle. This project is designed to make visible this cycle to others and clearly show where our food comes from. The cycle being, cultivation, harvesting, distribution, retail, meal preparation and the final destination, the meal plate itself. This project is entitled ‘Farm to Plate’.