Derek Man is a documentary and editorial photographer based in London.
Having worked in design and art direction for leading studios in London for over six years, Derek turned his focus to photography after graduating from University of South Wales MA Documentary Photography with distinction. Since then he has worked for a wide range of clients including VICE, American Express, Hargreaves Lansdown and Majestic Wine, as well as exhibiting both in the UK and internationally.
His personal work explores cultural identity and what we call home – how we form a sense of place, and what makes us feel like we belong.
Man was nominated for the Magnum Photos Graduate Photographers Award in 2017. His work are in the collection of Open Eye Gallery, Liverpool (UK) and Kiyosato Museum of Photographic Arts (Japan).
Projects
- The Isle of Wight AnalogyAs memories of the great Empire fade further into history, the Isle of Wight has been relieved of most of its historical duties. Yet, traces of an older kind of Britishness still linger, having taken on a nostalgic quality. A native of Hong Kong, a former British colony, I have lived in the UK for over a decade. The question of my own cultural identity led me to investigate the Island, a microcosm of an old Britain, one which is strange yet familiar to me in a cultural, historical and personal c
- Close to HomeClose to Home looks at the housing market in Hong Kong, exploring the lives of those caught in the struggle between the human need for shelter and the commercial need for growth – a situation that resonates worldwide. It can also be seen as a record of how rapidly the city landscape is changing from the perspective of an expatriate who has lived in the UK for 12 years. By showing the up-and-coming private estates, the oldest and newest social housing, showrooms displaying the perfect flats, estate agents desperately selling up land, and the gates behind which ultra wealthy homes sit, the work weaves together a vision of a housing future that is recognisable globally, placing the lives of the people caught in this tension of the commodification of homes back into the wider social context. Exhibited at LOOK/17 Liverpool International Photography Festival, supported using public funding by Arts Council England.
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Work history
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PhotographerFreelance
London, United KingdomFreelance
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Freelance Graphic DesignerFreelance
- London, United KingdomFreelance
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Skills
- Photography
- Candid Photography
- Candid Portraiture
- Street Photography
- Reportage Photography
- Documentary Photography
- Corporate Photography
- Editorial Photography
- Travel Photography
- Portrait Photography
Education
Awards
Magnum Photos Graduate Photographers AwardMagnum Photos
NominatedGrants for the ArtsArts Council England