Kaitlyn Church (born 1997) is a Geelong based emerging documentary photographer and photojournalist. She utilizes her upbringing in rural Australia as a source of inspiration for her photographic work; her current practice is largely focused on documenting the ever-changing landscape of rural and regional Australia. She graduated in 2018 with a Bachelor of Photography from Photography Studies College in Melbourne where she majored in Photojournalism.
Systems of Measurement
The few memories of my Grandfather I have remaining have been distorted with the passing of time. Much like my family photo archive they are often blurry, fading and fragmented. After my Grandmother passed away as a result of a brief battle with dementia, the task of cleaning the home they shared was left to their remaining family. During this process of sorting through a lifetime worth of mementos, a series of diaries were discovered gathering dust in the back of a cupboard. These diaries have given valuable insight into what Leonard’s life was like. These books include detailed descriptions of his day to day life, reflections on his life and childhood, biographies of his parents and all 13 of his siblings, as well as his innermost thoughts about his then-impending death. These diaries have safeguarded memories that would have otherwise died along with my Grandfather. On the surface, these diaries measure the passing of time, they document current affairs and family activities, and they mark out the monthly rainfall – textual systems of measurement that have enabled me to connect with him in his absence.
To view more of Kaitlyn Church’s work please visit her website.