{"id":137490,"date":"2025-11-13T12:01:08","date_gmt":"2025-11-13T12:01:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/137490\/"},"modified":"2025-11-13T12:01:08","modified_gmt":"2025-11-13T12:01:08","slug":"phone-booth-photo-project-becomes-unusual-exhibition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/137490\/","title":{"rendered":"Phone Booth Photo Project Becomes Unusual Exhibition"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"A<\/a><\/p>\n

One Saturday morning in the North of England, amateur photographer Chris Bennett got caught in the rain \u2014 typical for the area. He took refuge in an unloved phone booth and began shooting pictures from inside. <\/p>\n

Bennett had tried to take photos from inside the phone booth before, \u201cbut was never able to manage anything compelling.\u201d However, as the rain continued to pour down on the main street in Lancaster, Bennett figured he might as well give his idea another go. <\/p>\n

\u201cI thought it would be a waste of time, as I would be shooting through two windows and the subjects would be further away, but I was wrong!\u201d Bennett tells PetaPixel. \u201cThe \u2018patina\u2019 of poster and sticker residue, scratches, and spillages over the glass was doubled up and had a really interesting effect on the results.\u201d <\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>Bennett\u2019s favorite image that came out of that first session in the phone booth was this shot, which he calls \u2018Mugshot #1.\u2019 <\/p>\n

Since then, Bennett has taken hundreds more photos as it has developed into a project he calls KX-100, which refers to the phone booth\u2019s precise model. Despite working within a 7 ft by 3 ft space, Bennett says the photos are surprisingly varied, given that they were all shot through a window. <\/p>\n

\u201cAt one point, the windows were replaced, so I got a chance to work from a clean sheet and witness the patina building up again,\u201d the photographer adds. \u201cAs time went on, I realized I was chronicling the last years of the British phone box coupled with a unique perspective on life in Lancaster.\u201d <\/p>\n

\"A<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Two<\/a><\/p>\n

\"A<\/a><\/p>\n

Phone Booth Photo Exhibition <\/p>\n

Bennett says that he toyed with the idea of \u201cholding a guerrilla exhibition in the kiosk,\u201d but didn\u2019t want to risk catching a criminal damage charge. However, when a sign appeared on the phone booth giving notice that it would be removed, he decided to take action. <\/p>\n

\u201cI contacted BT\u2019s press office and within a day they replied to give me permission to go ahead as long as I didn\u2019t interfere with the equipment of its removal,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n

The unique show officially opened on October 25 and will run until December. There are 70 4\u00d74 prints posted inside the payphone, festooning the windows and back wall. <\/p>\n

\"Black-and-white<\/a>Chris Bennett inside the phone booth surrounded by his photos. | Photo by Peter Kay<\/p>\n

\u201cI saw the removal of the phone box as an opportunity to bring the project to a fitting conclusion and to give the city the chance to see itself from this unique perspective,\u201d adds Bennett. <\/p>\n

\u201cI have made the offer to viewers of the exhibition that if they see themselves in one of the photos, then they can take it with them when they go. As they are removed, I replace them with others.\u201d <\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>Double-exposure showing the inside and outside of the phone booth. <\/p>\n

Bennett says the phone company, BT, hasn\u2019t revealed exactly when the booth will be removed, so the images will stay put until then. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe reaction from the public has been fantastic, with great support for the project,\u201d he adds. More of Bennett\u2019s work can be found on his Instagram<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Image credits: Photographs by Chris Bennett<\/p>\n