Annebella Pollen Explores Childhood Photography in New Book and Exhibition

A new exhibition and book delve into the reasons children capture images and the insights their early photographs provide, particularly from the pre-smartphone and digital age. Led by Annebella Pollen, a professor at the University of Brighton specializing in visual and material culture, the initiative highlights photography as a widely embraced childhood hobby, despite its limited scholarly exploration. Pollen draws parallels between music's role in shaping identity—illustrated by the common inquiry about one's first record—and the significance of a child's initial experience with a camera. Reflecting on her own first photos taken at age 10, coinciding with her first crush, the project fills a research void regarding everyday image-making prior to the digital era and examines the reasons behind the selection of cherished images.