Project

Pop-up Portraits

Rhys Webber, Mohammed Fez Miah

In September 2021, Ffotogallery held two free pop up portrait photoshoot sessions in the heart of Pill in Newport. The Phyllis Maud Performance Space became our photographic studio with lights and backdrops set up for members of the public to have their photo taken by one of our professional photographers, (themselves Newport based) Rhys Webber and Fez Miah. The resulting images reflect the cultural diversity of Pill residents, celebrates their individual and shared experiences and illustrates the warmth and friendliness shown to us by all those who became our models. Rhys and Fez both spent time getting to know their subjects and these newly formed relationships between photographers and subjects are clear in the faces of the fabulous people of Pill.

The Phyllis Maud Performance Space was formerly a toilet built solely for men in the late 1800’s and this grade II listed building served both the railwaymen (there were railway lines behind the Phyllis Maud) and the Newport dockers. Derelict to a point of being dangerous this gem was carefully given new life by its present owner Janet Martin and hopefully will stand proudly for a long time to come honouring the late Phyllis Maud Neels and giving pleasure to the people of Newport and beyond.

Rhys Webber

Rhys grew up in Newport spending his youth photographing friends, and spending pocket money on film, paper and chemicals. After graduating with a degree in Photography and Film, University of Westminster, he had a dual career of freelancing in design and photography whilst teaching at colleges and Universities in London.

On returning to Newport in 2004, Rhys established both Webber Design and Webber Photo, working for local, national and international clients - photographing anything that clients would pay him for (except weddings).

He started his long term project 'Newportraits' in 2009 with the aim of documenting the people of Newport in all their glorious diversity. After returning to a 'depressed' Newport which seemed to believe in its own bad press, the project was an attempt to show the people of the city in a positive light... the way he sees the community, and the potential of the people who live there.

Most of the portraits have been taken at events like Maindee Festival and The Big Splash, where Rhys invited everyone to have their photo taken - shooting up to 100 portraits a session. Many of the portraits are from Maindee, one of Newport's most ethnically diverse areas - with the local primary boasting 30 different first languages spoken by its communities. Above all Rhys values connecting with the people he photographs, whoever they are and wherever they are from and this shines through in his work.

Rhys Webber

Mohammed Fez Miah

Mohamad Fez Miah, creator of the Newport Photomarathon and educator in new media practises in multiple universities and establishments was a graduate of the original Documentary Photography programme. Today he runs renowned youth arts agency Urban Circle as well as a functioning portrait and produce capturing studio based in Maindee Newport. Digital creative literacy and access are the newest topics of research and practise and these are informing new projects in South Wales and England.