Kevan Halson is a well-known and highly regarded fine arts photographer who resides in the purlieus of Bagni di Lucca. He first came to my attention with a ‘dilapidations’ project some years back. This is where Kevan concentrated on decay and decrepitude in buildings and their fitments. A kind of memento mori, the exhibition aroused great interest and demonstrated just how good Kevan is is in his field – the use of silver nitrate paper technique so little used today, for example, was quite virtuosistic.

Kevan’s current project involves photographing migrants to our area and who have resided here for several years.

The term ‘migrant’ covers all people from other countries who have gravitated to Bagni di Lucca and made it their principal home. Their reasons could be several: improved quality of life, work, life-style change, love affair….

Personally, I came here for a life-style change and have never regretted it. I also abhor people who call themselves ‘ex-pats’. Whether one comes here from the Old Kent Road or from the deserts of Sudan one still remains a migrant.

Kevan has set up a studio in what used to be Ponte a Serraglio’s parish hall, theatre and cinema.

It is a beautiful neo-classical building with an airy interior including a columned gallery.

I remember this hall last being used for the Ponte a Serraglio arts festival, an event which ran from 2013 to 2015 and has now achieved quasi-mythical status.

I shall always remember the amazing concert, which included the didgeridoo and gongs, given here with the participation of Pistoia’s Tronci foundation.

I became a subject in Kevan’s illuminating project a couple of days ago. I’d never been a photographic subject before and Kevan made me feel fully at ease while he shot away in a scenario filled with lighting effects, mirrors, reflectors and such-like.

At the same time, the photographer’s assistant asked me some simple questions, putting together a basic biography of myself and the reasons why I had decided to come and live at BDL.
The project ‘I am not from here’ is on-going and well-worth participation. Some of Kevan’s stunning photographs may already be viewed on Facebook.
Do get in touch with Kevan at http://www.kevanhalson.net
Or just meet up with him at the Old cinema at Ponte a Serraglio. There can be no-one described as un-photogenic in our part of the world!