This newsletter is slightly different to the usual because I have BIG news.
My photobook Crocus Valley is now available to pre-order!
Crocus Valley is a love letter to Croydon, my home. It’s a purposefully unexpected glimpse and romantic view of this cultural and generational patchwork quilt of a place that’s supposedly empty of such romance. Scenes that are rarely, if ever, depicted in the media or spoken about.
Being on this particular edge of the UK’s capital has its advantages, whether it’s hopping on the tram into Croydon’s much wilder lands – which sees big pink skies, lush rolling hills, and grazing cattle – or tracing the ancient rural remains of this strange town-city hybrid, evidence of which still remains throughout the borough; look to the names for a hint: Norwood, Selhurst ("dwelling in a wood"), Thornton Heath, Broad Green, Waddon (“the hill where woad grows”) and Croydon itself – the name is thought to translate to “crocus valley”, referring to a possible history of cultivation of the saffron flower.
The abundant nature and the not-so-hidden beauty doesn’t mean the very serious issues the borough faces don’t exist; however, like they do in all London boroughs, these extremes exist side-by-side. This is simply another side to Croydon’s truth.
Crocus Valley – published by RRB Photobooks and featuring poetry by Croydon poet laureate Shaniqua Benjamin and cover artwork by artist Bev Jones – will launch in August 2023 with an outdoor exhibition and mini series of events during Croydon's 2023 London Borough of Culture programme, thanks to the support of Stanley Arts and National Lottery's Natural Heritage grants.
P.S Please share, like, repost etc – it all helps 💜
P.P.S Watch this space for invites to the launch night 🎉
See you again next time,
A x
The process: Crocus Valley
Last week, I was in İstanbul, Turkey, at the MAS Matbaa printing house to be “on press” and oversee the printing of my book. It was my first time doing something like this and it was so wonderful to be able to get involved behind the scenes of the physical production of a book.
I also had the most lovely assistant who spent a lot of time curled up by my side while I worked 💜
I’m back in the UK now and carrying on with the logistical bits and bobs, trying to find venues, fill applications, wait to hear back, etc, etc, etc. Fingers crossed in the next few weeks I’ll be able to confirm venues and start sending out invitations!
Bookmarks
I FINALLY watched Stranger Things season four. I was so excited for this scene and it. did. not. disappoint. What a character, what a moment, what an absolute banger of a song! (Warning, lots of spoilers!)
I was inspired by this incredible story and the accompanying photographs for a recent Where the Leaves Fall newsletter – “In an extract from her latest book, Beastly: A New History of Animals and Us, Keggie Carew unearths a remarkable tale of kinship between animals and humans in the Białowieża Forest.”
Noticing Nature is a British microseason project on Twitter.
Unkindness is a mesmerising painting, one for the Corvid lovers.
Tipping jar
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A bit about me
Hey! I’m Ameena – a writer and photographer based in London. I love to tell stories about adventure, the outdoors, and our relationship with the natural world.