A diverse group of people who call Preston their home have spent six weeks photographing the city, its people and the issues that makes this place so special to them.

The First Impressions project has seen the participants develop storytelling skills to help express what they feel about the city. Through photography, their images tell vastly different stories, but together they provide a unique social commentary on Preston as a place they love.

Read more: ‘Remarkable creative journey’ to end with outdoor exhibition revealing how people feel about Preston

The project was made possible through Crowdfund Lancashire, and facilitated by Dave Clayton’s young people’s support organisation Wot Wud U Do plus photographer Garry Cook from Enjoy The Show. It has been supported by the Friends of Winckley Square.

Images from First Impressions are now on display in an outdoor exhibition at Winckley Square, until Sunday 11 May.

Garry said: “This has been a wonderful participatory photography project to work on. It’s been hugely enjoyable to find out what people think about the city of Preston, and to see those thoughts and opinions transfer in visual imagery – photographs – has been really interesting.

“We had a wide range of ages take part in the project. Hadi Dhanial took on a particularly tough assignment – photographing a rally. He’s documented it brilliantly, an amazing effort for a teenager right at the start of his career.”

Garry added: “Dave Clayton and I have guided the photographers over the six weeks, helping them develop their stories. The images they have been produced have been totally surprising.

“We have multi-genre styles including art photography, like Dimpy Patel’s beautiful images, and documentary and street photography. Some of the photographers were really nervous in the first week, especially about photographing people. But it’s been amazing to see them progress and produce really strong people-focused images, showing how much confidence they have gained throughout the process.

“For many of the participants, this is the start of their photography careers and it will be fascinating to see what subjects they tackle next, and see the images they produce.”

Read more: New coffee spot Brew Crew opens by Haslam Park in Ashton

Below you can find out more about the photographers who got involved.

Avenham and Miller Park Health Walk
The health walks, lasting either one hour or two hours, take place every Monday morning. The walks, which cater for all ages and abilities, with dog walkers welcome too, promote physical and mental well-being and bring people together socially.
Karen See
@mdcrr

There is Joy to be Found
There is joy to be found every day, even in the simplest of forms.
Kathryn Armstrong
@kcphotographyjourney

Seven Word City 
I took photos of words found and walls, monuments and the ground around Preston. I used them to put together a sentence and the more words I gather the more I plan to do.
Arthur Chappell
@arthurchappell

Vesper’s Embrace: A Quiet Preston Memory
Each photograph captures Preston in its quiet, gentle moments, where the usual bustle gives way to a peaceful stillness. These images invite a sense of nostalgia, offering a pause to appreciate the fleeting beauty of the present as time slows just for a moment.
Dimpy Patel

Growing the good in Preston
Let’s Grow Preston helps local communities brighten up their areas and greenspaces through gardening to improve wellbeing.
Robin Trelfa

Preston For Palestine rally
On Sunday 6 April, 2025, I photographed a Palestine protest supporting the men, women and children of Gaza who are being slaughtered daily by the IDF and Israel. I photographed these people so show people that we care about people being killed in Preston, UK.  
Hadi Dhanial

Two Prestons
The contrast of wealth inequality and underinvestment within Preston. 
Callum Taylor
@kcphotographyjourney 

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