Woodsetts teenager captures life under lockdown in vivid village doorstep portraits

A Woodsetts teenager has been documenting life under lockdown by photographing colourful portraits of people on their doorsteps in the village.
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Josh Taylor, 16, has so far snapped householders at 87 homes over two weeks - covering up to 20 miles on his pushbike around the village.

The talented teen started taking the remarkable pictures to keep busy during his daily exercise - however the photo shoots are now so popular he books villagers in through texts or social media messages.

Dinnington High School student Josh told how though he had lived in Woodsetts all his life he now felt like he knew the village ‘a lot better’ after photographing ‘hundreds of people’ he had never met before.

Josh TaylorJosh Taylor
Josh Taylor

He said: “I like talking to the older people - I met one old lady who said she had never experienced anything like this before.

“And just in a geographic sense trying to find people’s houses I’ve got to know the place in terms of street names.

“But I’m not very organised and sometimes end up zigzagging all over the village - I covered about 20 miles one night.

“It’s really brought out a community spirit - it gives people something to do and gives them a chance to get dressed up and out of their pyjamas.”

Josh liked the jail-like pose in this image. Picture by Josh Taylor.Josh liked the jail-like pose in this image. Picture by Josh Taylor.
Josh liked the jail-like pose in this image. Picture by Josh Taylor.

Among Josh’s vibrant shots are an old couple holding hands, a family literally at each other’s throats and a couple holding a baby and a toddler.

However two of his favourites include a formally-composed portrait of a family standing in an arched doorway with their dogs and a woman smiling while holding the bars of her gate with some rainbow art.

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GCSE student Josh - who started taking pictures aged 8 and has already received several paid commissions - captured the striking images on a Canon 7D mark 11.

Josh's favourite composition. Picture by Josh Taylor.Josh's favourite composition. Picture by Josh Taylor.
Josh's favourite composition. Picture by Josh Taylor.

The kind snapper had been offering a free digital copy of his pictures to his subjects - but when they started offering payment he asked them to donate to a crowdfunding page for the NHS.

He has raised over £450 for NHS Charities Together - to make a donation click HERE.

To see more of Josh’s work click HERE.

A message from the Editor:

An old couple holding hands outside their home. Picture by Josh Taylor.An old couple holding hands outside their home. Picture by Josh Taylor.
An old couple holding hands outside their home. Picture by Josh Taylor.

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