Documenting Your Community is British Culture Archive’s annual open call, inviting photographers of all backgrounds to capture the people, places and everyday stories that define contemporary Britain.
Inspired by Tish Murtha — whose photography was rooted in care, connection and the lived experience of her own community — this project encourages you to photograph where you live. It could be the local shopkeeper who knows everyone by name, neighbours sharing a moment in the park, friends gathered at the pub, or a fleeting encounter that reveals something essential about your surroundings.
You don’t need to be a professional photographer to take part. We welcome images that reflect the diversity, character and humour of modern British life, from intimate details to shared moments of collective experience.
Submissions are open year-round.
Each January and February, the British Culture Archive will showcase a curated selection across our website and social channels, celebrating the breadth and texture of everyday life across the UK. A final selection will be exhibited annually as part of Documenting Your Community.
Photo: Tish Murtha © Ella Murtha, all rights reserved.
If you’d like to participate in this photography project, you can post your photo on Instagram tagging @britishculturearchive and include the hashtag #documentingyourcommunity
Please include a line or narrative explaining what your photo is about.
You can also submit your photo via contact@britishculturearchive.co.uk
The photo copyright remains with you, and by tagging the photo, you will be permitting us to post the photo online on The British Culture Archive website. British Culture Archive will show a selection of submissions.
Photo © Harry Foster, all rights reserved.
“Trini is an Ace Cafe legend and an original member of the 59 Club. His home-built motorbike broke down outside his old Deptford flat as I passed one Sunday a few weeks back. So he kindly humoured me for a few minutes, told us some great stories of the old neighbourhood and allowed me to take a couple of frames.” – Harry Foster.
Photo © Grace Potts, all rights reserved.
“I am a final year student at Manchester Metropolitan University. My images depict my home town of Oldham in Greater Manchester.” – Grace Potts.
Photo © Jess Bennett, all rights reserved.
“In 2019, I started documenting the familiar faces of the people who frequent the bars and businesses around the Princes Ave area of Hull.
Hasina doesn’t skate anymore. During lockdown, she taught her girls to skate. Summer 2021 was the first time I met and photographed Layna, Maysa and Amaya. They skated by me on Princes Ave in formation and ascending order of height. With the bars, pubs, and cafes mostly closed, the skater girls were a refreshing change to the bar antics I had previously captured. They are still some of the best pics I’ve taken.” – Jess Bennett.
Photo © Sam Jones, all rights reserved.
“This photograph was captured in the Smithdown Road area of the city – in the streets surrounding the church where my brother is a priest. The L15 and L8 areas of Liverpool have long been social melting pots: ethnically/culturally diverse, working-class and full of lively hustle and bustle. For many years, the city of Liverpool has swayed towards the political left – with many of the city’s natives craving a fairer and more ‘socialist’ geared society! So the sprawl of graffiti reading ‘Fight For Socialism’ felt like a fitting tribute to my city’s state of mind and provided a striking backdrop with which to capture the two hooded youths speeding past me on a motorbike. The photograph is from my open-ended documentary project – ‘The Streets of Liverpool’. It is a project born out of my desire to create compelling and lasting images of the city and how it looks today for future generations.” – Sam Jones.
Photo © Cameron Scrimgeour, all rights reserved.
“A portrait I took of David in the town centre of Bedford, where I live. At age 85, David has been cleaning windows in Bedford town since he was 14 years old – 71 years experience. He said he has no plans of retiring just yet.” – Cameron Scrimgeour
Photo © Mia Gillen, all rights reserved.
“This was taken in Hackney Central, London, which is my local area. I’ve been working on a project to capture the areas of London subjected to gentrification, with Hackney being one of those. I wanted to capture the community and interview them about their thoughts and feelings towards the changes.
“The man in the photo is Otis. He owns and runs that food truck, which he has been doing for the past ten years; he told me that he loves the sense of community in Hackney, even though so many people come and go from the area. He says he has noticed such a change in the area within the past ten years and hopes it continues to improve for the people in the community.” – Mia Gillen.
Photo © Carly Clarke, all rights reserved.
