In 1976, at the age of 20, photographer John Dean embarked on his first journey away from his Baltimore home, traveling to Nottingham, UK. This experience was part of an exchange program set up between the Maryland Institute College of Art and Nottingham Trent University. During a spring semester abroad, Dean devoted himself entirely to independent photography, capturing the city’s evolving landscape as its historic Victorian buildings were being demolished to make way for new council housing. He recalled regularly encountering a particular man in the park and noted how the scenes struck him as “very English.” Dean immersed himself deeply within a local family’s life, residing on the third floor of their Victorian house, sharing daily dinners, and even making marmalade using traditional methods. He documented moments like the first birthday of their baby boy, feeling truly “embedded” in their lives.
Becky the dog steals the show: John Dean’s best photograph
By Rupert Blackwood
Investigative journalist based in Sheffield, focusing on technology's impact on society. Rupert specializes in cybercrime's effect on communities, from online fraud targeting elderly residents to cryptocurrency scams. His reporting examines social media manipulation, digital surveillance, and how criminal networks operate in cyberspace. With expertise in computer systems, he connects technical complexity with real-world consequences for ordinary people