Luke David Kellett: Newcastle
This newly released book showcases a series of 100 household portraits taken in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia during the stringent COVID-19 lockdowns of 2020. The photographer, Luke David Kellett, used this period as a chance to document the architecture and people of Newcastle, creating a visual record that captures the essence of that time.
Kellett remarks, ‘I’ve only felt compelled to work on major bodies of photographic work twice in my life, on both occasions I’ve picked up my camera and started shooting. I think it’s my way of understanding what is occurring around me, I use my camera as a bit of a shield and a tool to mentally process situations.’Each portrait in the collection was carefully taken with a large-format camera, focusing on uniformity in perspective and framing. Kellett’s goal was to establish a consistent structure in his photos, showcasing both the distinct architectural features of Newcastle and the unique characteristics of its residents, with the uniform framing allowing viewers to concentrate on the individuals without the distraction of varied compositions.Kellett adds, ‘Apart from personally loving the uniformity of typologies, everything around the world at the time was chaotic and unknown. Photographing this project as a typology provided some structure that I could cling on to. Pedantically obsessing over the tiny details of matching the images calmed me down, grounded me and gave me focus during a very strange time.’The lockdown required Kellett to manually process the large-format color film, introducing technical challenges and anomalies in some photos. He embraced these imperfections, allowing them to enhance the portrayal of the surreal period. Each household was interviewed about their personal experiences during the lockdown, and summaries of these interviews are included in the book to offer insights into the lives of the residents at the time.
Kellett hopes, ‘My hope is that the project will stimulate a deeper reflection on our shared humanity in years to come and serve as a reminder of our ability to come together in times of crisis.’
About the Author
Luke David Kellett is a photographer born in Yorkshire, England. Mesmerized by the human condition, he began taking photos in the early 2000s. At the beginning of his career, he was fortunate to be employed by UK record labels, Atlantic and Sony, and was commissioned to produce album art and press shots for artists in London. At the same time, he assisted London portrait photographer George Ktistakis and was an apprentice at the London colour darkroom, Rapid Eye. In 2008, he left the UK to travel to Australia, where he met an incredible community of artists, musicians, and performers in Melbourne. This chance encounter led to his first major body of photographic work titled “This City Speaks To Me.” For three years, he documented the lives of those that inspired him in Melbourne, taking portraits in a makeshift studio with a large format camera and some of the last Polaroid Type 55 film he could find. The State Library of Victoria recognized the project as a prominent documentation of sub-cultures within Melbourne’s underground. They purchased the entire body of work in 2011, and the collection now lives in their archives. During his time in Melbourne, he also met his wife, Sarah Cook. After the project finished, they relocated back to her hometown of Newcastle to run the creative agency, Headjam, and start a family. They work on multidisciplinary projects with their business partner, Mike Preston, and a growing team of 12 creatives who encompass all types of wonderful abilities. He continues to take photographs alongside his work running Headjam and remains forever fascinated by humans from all walks of life.
