MDX photography graduate snaps up top national award

Winning portrait from Lessons In Love project displayed on billboards across UK

A Middlesex University graduate has enjoyed success in a prestigious national competition after changing careers to study for a master’s degree in photography. 

Suzi Darsa’s winning photograph, ’53 Years Married’, was among 100 images selected in the Portrait of Britain Vol. 8 awards displayed on digital screens in high streets, rail stations and public spaces across the UK. 

Having spent 20 years working in PR and communications in the charity and arts sectors, Suzi started work as a professional family and lifestyle photographer five years’ ago 

The competition, run by British Journal of Photography with advertising firm JCDecaux UK, celebrates the diversity and character of contemporary Britain through portraits of people with a wide range of backgrounds and was on display in public spaces across the country. 

Suzi’s winning colour portrait of a loving couple, Judith and Ged, also appears alongside 200 shortlisted images in the accompanying Portrait of Britain Volume 8 photobook. She recently exhibited 21 black and white portraits of older people from her MA project ‘Lessons in Love’ at Middlesex University.

Suzi, who finished her MA last year and lives in Highgate, said: “My ambition on completing my MA was to see my work on a billboard and published in a book. To have all that, and an exhibition, happen at once has been amazing.”

Her winning photo stood out because of the lighting, composition and intimacy seen in the portrait. Suzi said: “We had beautiful light shining into the bedroom on a sunny day while, with Judith looking directly at the camera and Ged cuddling up to her, you can see they are blissfully happy together.” 

Having been published in one photobook, Suzi’s image of a Middlesex University student is due to appear in another photography booked, ‘Do You Like Love?’, to be published by photography organisation Shutter Hub later this year. 

Suzi built a successful family and dog photography business after her career change, then embarked on a part-time two-year MA at Middlesex, which fitted around her family and professional commitments, to develop her skills and career. 

Her two MA projects focused on romantic love with ‘The Triangular Theory of Love’ portfolio inspired by psychologist Robert Sternberg’s relationship theories and by the work of photographers Curtis Hughes and Alec Soth. Her colour environmental portraiture captures her subjects at home to help tell their story.

Her other MA project, Lessons in Love (see two portraits above), formed the basis of the exhibition at Middlesex University and was supported by Age UK Camden whereby Suzi was able to photograph participants in a pop-up studio in one of the charity’s shops. Exploring the nature of love retrospectively and inspired by the work of photographer Paul Duke, it showcased the experiences of love of people aged over 60. 

For both projects, Suzi interviewed her subjects, building trust and asking them to reflect on love in their lives. She said: “I was taken aback by their emotion, and it expanded my horizons to hear their stories. That interaction just before I photographed my subjects gave depth to the pictures and brought out their personalities and experiences.” 

Suzi credits her development as a photographer to her MA course where she learned about research and developing ideas by using visual learning tools. She was able to access high-quality professional equipment and obtain detailed feedback from tutors.

“The MA at Middlesex was a fantastic experience. The teaching was excellent and the facilities were amazing."
Suzi Darsa, MA Photography graduate

"I improved my technical skills 100-fold on the course and was able to use professional equipment worth thousands of pounds. It was a game changer in developing my photography and made me even more passionate about taking photos," she said. 

Suzi’s goal is to continue her work as a social documentary photographer, working with more charities and community organisations, as well as businesses that have corporate social responsibility programmes, to document stories about social issues. 

She added: “I want to work with charities and organisations to tell social stories in a sympathetic and visually sensitive way. I feel strongly about helping people, and if I can use my photography skills to do that, then my MA and all the hard work will have been worth it.” 

Visit Suzi's website to find out more about her work.