Redeye, the Photography Network aims to support photographers and strengthen the wider photographic industry. As part of this mission we enjoy visiting university courses in the UK, offering advice and guidance to students wishing to build their experience, confidence and skills in the sector. At the end of each academic year we attend the final degree shows of the courses we have visited; it’s a chance to celebrate the successful culmination of all those years studying with the graduating class of students.  

In 2023 we were invited to the degree shows of the University of Salford, University of Cumbria, Manchester School of Art at Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of Bolton. At each degree show we award the Redeye prize which gives the successful photographer support throughout the first year after graduation. 

We’re so pleased to announce the first of our awardees – Jordan Stephenson from the University of Salford. As part of the Redeye prize, we invite the winners to do an Instagram Takeover of our account, you can view Jordan’s starting from this post here.

We would like to say a huge congratulations to Jordan - find out more about his final degree show work from Jordan himself, below:

“I chose to shoot 4x5 glass plates to document the British landscape. I chose this method not only for its capabilities of recording breathtaking images but to rise to the challenge that many great photographers had to at the turn of the 19th century. Glass plates are heavy and combined with the weight of the camera and its essentials, the image-making process becomes extremely difficult. It is here where the true appreciation for the images starts to settle in. Glass plate photography is not easy and it forces the practitioner to slow down and think meticulously about their exposures but it also creates the time for the practitioner to take in their surroundings and connect with the environment. My reason for choosing glass plates was out of a desire to connect, form connections, not only to the environments around me but to the people, to my medium as an artist and most importantly to myself. The plates were developed to negative and then contact printed onto another plate in order to exhibit the images in positive. This came with its own set of challenges. I believe that these images have character to them, a character that I would not have been able to get out of them if it wasn’t for the time and the dedication that I put into them.”

Photo credit: Jordan Stephenson

Discover more about Jordan’s work on his Instagram @boardyjordy