In Praise Of Older Women
Contributing Photographer Chris Kelly sent me this glorious collection of her pictures of older women from the East End and elsewhere, entitled In Praise Of Older Women after the book by the Hungarian writer Stephen Vizinczey.
“Iʼve taken many pictures of inspirational women over the years but these are among the ones that make me smile the most,” Chris told me, “I know nothing about the private lives of the people in these photographs, I only know that the characters were strong, determined and fun to be with.”
Peggy Metaxas & Rosie, Whitechapel, 2013
Members of All Saints Dance Club, Poplar, 2003
Members of All Saints Dance Club, Poplar, 2003
Older people from France on an exchange visit to Kent, 1993
Older people from France on an exchange visit to Kent, 1993
Kazia Cander, farmer, Northern Poland, 1984
Kazia Cander, farmer, Northern Poland, 1984
Community Centre, Southwick, East Sussex, 1985
Members of Maidstone CND at Greenham Common, 1983
Irene Livermore & Mary Christmas, Wapping Pensionersʼ Group, St Peterʼs Centre, 2003
Spectator at National Carriage Driving Championships, Windsor, 1983
Queenie Baxter, Connors House, Canterbury, 1993
Sheffield Pensioners Action Group at a rally in Manchester, 1988
Sheffield Pensioners Action Group at a rally in Manchester, 1988
Sheffield Pensioners Action Group member sells copies of Senior Citizen
Sheffield Pensioners Action Group members dress up to commemorate eighty years of Old Age Pensions
Spectators at Ascot Races, 1983
Fernande Bressy, wine producer, Rhône Valley, 1991
Irish Emma leading the bingo at St. Patrickʼs, Wapping
Methodist Centre, Bethnal Green, 2003
Bridie Murphy and Warden Anne Baine, Twinbrook Estate, Belfast, 1989
Anwara Begum, Cable St Community Gardens, 2012
Balkis Karim, Cable St Community Gardens, 2012
Administrator at North London Community Centre, 1998
Photographs copyright © Chris Kelly
You may like to take a look at these other photographs by Chris Kelly
Chris Kelly’s Columbia School Portraits 1996
Chris Kelly’s Cable St Gardeners
Wonderful! I have great respect for these women who have worked hard all their lives and achieved a lot. The special thing about them is that THEY are the ones who have a clear view of many essential things in life!
They remind me of my mum, who died at the age of 84.
Love & Peace
ACHIM
These are an interesting set of portraits. Although Chris says that he knows nothing of the lives of these women, I would imagine that they would all have a story to tell. I have a favourite photograph of my grandmother standing with three of her sisters, taken at a wedding in Walthamstow. They would all have been in their seventies at that point and my gran was a widow. They are standing in a conspiratorial group and the photo somehow captures them so perfectly, I just love it.
Thank you Chris and the GA for this interesting set of portraits.
I’m all blown out . Incredible .
It reminds me of John Lennon’s song ,”Power to the people.”
Thank you Chris they are such warm wonderful pictures of incredible women from fields to dance halls. Look forward to seeing more.
Oh THANK YOU GA! What a treat your post is today – featuring one of my all time favourite photographers xxx
Thank you for celebrating the older woman. These are beautiful photos that make me feel happy to look at. There is a lot of misogyny around at the moment and older women seem to cop a lot of it!
Great pictures, thank you.
These photos made my morning! There’s something infectious about their mood. There’s so much *life* there. It makes me feel joyful!
Thank you so much for sharing them.
I love these photos….is there any chance they could be published in a book?
Wonderful,varied collection.
Respect to all of the strong looking women shown here. Kazia the Polish farmer reminds of my late Uncle Tadek’s mama, she lived on a farm with an orchard outside Warsaw.
Happy people! An antidote to the morning news and a joy to behold. Thank you.
Thank you to your wonderful contributing photographers.