#6 JIM MORTRAM SOCIAL DOCUMENTARIAN
Whether it’s a form of personal catharsis, or an opportunity for the people he photographs to reveal intimate accounts that would otherwise remain behind most firmly closed doors in Dereham, the town that’s home to the photographer in Norfolk, 15 miles west of Norwich, Jim Mortram’s chance introduction to photography spawned a documentary passage.
His photo project Small Town Inertia reveals portraits of people and their stories within a three mile radius of the Jim Mortram’s own front door; and is an honest and unwavering authentic work of photojournalism from a man with no other agenda it seems, than to care.
When I originally recorded this interview with Jim, it was decided we’d meet at Simon’s house, one of the many friends Jim had made during the making of Small Town Inertia. Simon, suffers with epilepsy and at the time his seizures were growing in frequency both at night and during the day. I’d read about Simon when the project first came to my attention long before I’d proposed an interview even. And now as we sat in his front room, it felt rather surreal to be hearing the stories told so thoughtfully through words and pictures from a key character or if you will contributor to Small Town Inertia.
Images used with permission from Jim Mortram. Reproduction prohibited.
FURTHER REFERENCE
Jim Mortram’s archive
Wikipedia entry
The Guardian’s feature on Smalltown Inertia