Editor’s note
August always seems to arrive with a quieter energy. The pace changes, the light begins to shift almost imperceptibly, and photography often becomes less about chasing the next image and more about noticing what is already there.
This issue is a celebration of that slower approach.
One of the things I’ve come to value most is the importance of photographing for ourselves first. The images that stay with us are often the ones made in moments of curiosity, stillness, or simple observation. They may never become our most popular photographs, but they are often the ones that matter most.
Women Photographers UK has always been about creating space for that kind of photography. A space where different styles, experiences, and voices can exist side by side, and where community is built through sharing, encouragement, and thoughtful conversation rather than competition.
From this month, 7&7 will become a monthly feature. The slower rhythm feels more in keeping with the spirit of this magazine and gives contributors more time to photograph, reflect, and share work that feels meaningful to them.
I’d also love to invite more contributions from the community. If you have a photographic project, a personal essay, the story behind an image, or reflections on your creative journey, please get in touch. This magazine is not just about featuring photographs; it’s about sharing the experiences, ideas, and perspectives that sit behind them.
Thank you for being part of this growing community. I hope this issue encourages you to slow down, look a little longer, and continue making photographs that feel true to you.
Joy Rigg
Editor, Women Photographers UK
Editor, Women Photographers UK
❝ Women see things differently than men. We bring a different kind of empathy and connection to the stories we tell. ❞
— Mary Ellen Mark
Featured Artist : Mel Westgate
WPUK is delighted to introduce Norfolk-based photographer Mel Westgate as our latest Featured Artist.
Mel’s photography is characterised by a wonderful sense of calm and simplicity. Her work explores quiet coastal landscapes, sunrises and sunsets, as well as architectural landmarks across the UK, with a strong emphasis on light, atmosphere and considered composition.
A key part of Mel’s approach is minimalism and the art of subtraction. Through careful composition and long-exposure techniques, she transforms moving water into smooth, glass-like surfaces and softens the movement of the sky, creating a sense of stillness within the landscape. Her images often leave us with just the essential elements — a horizon, a structure, a stretch of coastline — allowing the simplicity of the scene to speak for itself.
Working along the diverse coastlines of Britain and around some of the country’s most recognisable landmarks, Mel takes great care to capture the changing character of the landscape. Whether photographing the first light of dawn, the final glow of sunset or a quiet morning wrapped in frost, her images have a consistent feeling of serenity and timelessness.
There is a real sense of patience and intention within Mel’s work. Rather than simply recording a place, she carefully considers how light, movement and space can be brought together to create something peaceful and beautifully refined.
WPUK is proud to showcase Mel’s work and to share her distinctive approach to landscape and fine art photography with our community.
Instagram : melaniewestgate31
Fresh Lenses is our intentional space for celebrating emerging talent. With no strict schedule or deadlines, this section is a rolling showcase of new female photographers who are just starting to shape their visual voice. Whenever we discover a fresh perspective that makes us stop and look closer, we share it here to connect our growing community with the future of photography.
Our Fresh Lens : Louise Carlan
Finding poetry in the quiet, moody corners of the British Coast
There is a unique magic to the British coastline when the crowds go home, the clouds roll over, and a quiet stillness takes over the shore. It is exactly this atmospheric, cinematic quality that caught our eye when we stumbled upon the work of Louise Carlan (@lcarlanphotography).
Describing herself as a beginner learning "one frame at a time," Louise possesses an instinctive eye for symmetry, structure, and negative space that rivals seasoned professionals. Chasing what she beautifully describes as a "moody minimalist vibe," her work leans away from bright, sunny postcards and instead embraces the soft, diffused glow of overcast skies and rainy afternoons.
Take her striking shot of the shelter on Cromer Pier. It is an image that forces you to pause. In Louise’s own words: “Sometimes the quietest places teach you the most about light, patience, and stillness.”
Through her lens, everyday coastal architecture is transformed into an evocative study of solitude. Louise reminds us that spectacular photography isn’t about finding the loudest scene—it is about having the patience to listen to the quietest ones. We are incredibly proud to showcase her as our very first Fresh Lens
See more from Louise Carlan over on instagram
We are always quietly looking for the next fresh perspective. If you know an exceptional emerging photographer who fits our aesthetic, let WPUK know
@dbeau_photo
@dorsetandsunsets
@catherinecochranepics
@angiewallacephotography
@jenrogersphotography
@moniquevergeest
@Amanda.dinsmore
" I tend to think of the act of photographing, generally speaking, as an adventure.
My favourite thing is to go where I've never been."
August Feature Showcase: Minimal Focus
What does minimalism mean when looking through a camera lens?
This month, the Women Photographers UK community explores the art of modern simplicity. Rather than completely empty frames, Minimal challenges us to find the quiet moments within a wider scene—focusing on singular subjects, clean geometric lines, and a deliberate sense of order.
From structured landscape details to solitary subjects cut out against the sky, these images capture the beauty of a focused point of view.
Thank you for spending time with this issue of WPUK.
If you’ve enjoyed it, I’d love you to explore the previous issues and the growing archive of features, community prompts and photography projects on the website.
Until next month, keep looking, keep creating, and keep finding the extraordinary in the ordinary.
