Teenage Kicks 15-18

As they move from childhood to adulthood, teenagers jealously guard the privacy of their rooms. Few people gain access to this sensitive comfort zone. Watching my own teenage daughter growing up made me acutely aware of this process.

At a time when there is much talk of social engagement in photography, I decided to undertake a project that would provide an antidote to the usual salacious and superficial pictures of 21st century youth - the all too familiar street straight-up shots, the ‘grab’ shots in clubs or the inevitable hoody gangs posing on housing estates.

In the past decade only two photographers, Adrienne Salinger and Lauren Greenfield, have looked at urban youth in a domestic context. '15-18' recognises and celebrates the importance of the teenager’s bedroom as a place of sanctuary where children modify and craft themselves in their search for identity.

This series of portraits were taken with the co-operation and collaboration of the sitters. Here they are, on their home territory, presenting themselves to the world for posterity, exactly as they want to be seen - highly engaged, confident and dignified.

Ed Barber

Research Interests

Photography, portraiture, uniforms and identity.

Current Research

Edward recently started a practice based PhD at London College of Fashion - 'W1: World One / Portrait, Place and Appearance in London's West End'.