This is Not a High Street

Publication Date: 01/06/2026

Place of Publication: Bournemouth, England

Abstract:

The photobook 'This Is Not a High Street' is both a shout for help and an autopsy of our town centres: town centres gutted by tax-avoiding online giants and soulless out-of-town shopping centres – and ultimately the policy makers and committees that enable them. Amidst the faded signage, little stories emerge: mid-shot mismatched detail evidencing the quiet dramas at play within our declining high streets and town centres.

Focussing on the disjointed and decaying, the images pause on a shabby hyperreality where faded or shuttered shopfronts stand witness to a commercial model that prioritises profit over community.

Source: Manual