Carly Clarke (b. 1985) is a British documentary and portrait photographer working primarily with medium format film. After completing her BA in photography at Middlesex University, London she was awarded the Luck-Hille Postgraduate Photography scholarship for her Master’s degree in Photography, also at Middlesex. Her work mainly focuses on social issues that may otherwise go unnoticed. Storytelling through the voices of the people she photographs is key to her work. She has personally researched, organised and sought funding for all of her overseas projects, which include - Remember Me: Vancouver’s DTES, Godhūlikāla: India’s Forgotten Elders and Jamadagni’s Temple: The Real Full Moon Festival.

When she was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma in 2012, she created a self-portrait project, Reality Trauma, documenting her journey through treatment and recovery. She subsequently created a second project, In the Blood, seven years later when her younger brother Joe was diagnosed with the same type of cancer. Reality Trauma has been widely commended and has been featured worldwide on BBC News Online, BBC TV local news, photography podcasts, and a radio show. She won the Royal Photographic Society's Vic Odden award in 2022, as well as several honourable mentions for her projects through the International Photography Awards (IPA) and has been shortlisted for the Portrait of Britain in 2018.

Her work has been published by the BBC, Royal Photographic Society, British Journal of Photography, Portrait of Britain, the charity Lymphoma Action, International Photography Awards (IPA), Jornal Contacto, POV Magazine (Canada), Lensculture, Portrait Salon and has been shown at the National Portrait Gallery in London. 

Clients & Features:

2023, 27th Jan, Eastbourne Herald Newspaper - Award-winning Eastbourne photographer documents her own cancer journey
2023, Them Frames - Carly Clarke’s Reality Trauma Documents Pain and Resilience by Dan Ginn
2023, Sussex World - Award-winning Eastbourne photographer documents her own cancer journey by Phil Hewitt - Link
2022, Middlesex University news  'MDX photography alumna diagnosed with lymphoma whilst studying says documenting battle saved her'
2022, The RPS Journal Awards 2022 issue - 'Light out of Darkness
2022, The Royal Photographic Society Announces 2022 Award Winners - Press release   Euro News
2022, Photography Chronicle - Godhūlikāla: India’s Forgotten Elders
2022, Photography Chronicle - In the Blood
2020-2024, LANGLAND: A Publicis Health Company - Reality Trauma 
2021, Lets Explore Magazine - Empowerment issue 'Godhūlikāla India's forgotten elders' 
2020, Lymphoma Matters Magazine - RealityTrauma - Autumn/Winter
2020, MAP6 Featured Carly Clarke - Remember Me: Vancouver's DTES 
2020, W Radio - Carly Clarke, The photographer who portrayed her own cancer 
2019, BBC South East Today - TV broadcast
2019, BBC News - Stories "Me, My camera, My brother... Our cancer" by Oliver Jarvis
2019, Metal Magazine - Carly Clarke documenting a life-changing journey - Words by Tamar Gerrits
2019, British Journal of Photography, 'Portrait of Britain: Carly Clarke on documenting a life-changing journey'
2018, Jornal Contacto, Luxembourg - World | "In India, there are elderly who can not live or die" by Sibila Lind
2018, Suitcase Magazine - Photo Journals - 'Jamadagni'sTemple: The Real Full Moon Festival'
2018, British Journal of Photography - Shortlist announcement - Portrait of Britain book 2018
2016, Lensculture Feature: 111 New Street Photography discoveries - 'Remember Me: Vancouver's DTES
2016, Art Narratives - Godhūlikāla: A Visual Documentation of India's Forgotten Elders by Carly Clarke
2016, Edge of Humanity Magazine - Documentary Photography- Fighting Cancer, Reality Trauma
2016, Viewfind, Godhūlikāla: India's forgotten Elders
2015, Darwin Magazine - Editor's Pick: Carly Clarke - Godhūlikāla: A visual documentation of India's forgotten Elders
2015, Portrait Salon Blog 'Chemotherapy Self-Portrait,'Reality Trauma
2015, Point of View Magazine, Canada - Photo-Essay: Remember Me: Vancouver's Downtown Eastside
2014, Middlesex University, BA Photography Degree, Profile, Carly Clarke 
2014, TRIP Magazine - Remember Me: Carly Clarke Captures Vancouver's Homeless Residents
2014, Left a Bit: 'When Courage and Photography Combine' Reality Trauma

Recognition/Awards:

2022, Vic Odden Award, Royal Photographic Society - Video Link
2022, Royal Photographic Society IPE 164 Exhibition - Shortlist 
2018, Honorable Mention - Category: People, Culture -'Jamadagni's Temple: The Real Full Moon Festival' - International Photography Awards (IPA)
2018, Shortlist - Portrait of Britain  with British Journal of Photography - Portrait of Britain book by Hoxton Mini Press
2016, Nominee Award - Story - Reality Trauma -Photogrvphy Grant
2016, Honorable Mention - Category: People Self Portrait 'Reality Trauma' - International Photography Awards (IPA)
2016, Honorable Mention - Category: Editorial Photo Essay and Feature Story - 'Remember Me: Vancouver's Downtown Eastside' -International Photography Awards (IPA)
2015, The Eaton Fund - Grant Award -Photographer
2014, Honorable Mention - Reality Trauma - StudioStrike: The Curated Ego: 'Selfie' - National Portrait Gallery
2013, Portrait Salon, Chemotherapy Self-Portrait, Reality Trauma
2013, Luck Hille Foundation Postgraduate Photography Award 2013 - Middlesex University Scholarship

Exhibitions/Talks:

2023, 26 July at 6pm - Royal Photographic Society - In conversation: Carly Clarke and Stephen Lovell-Davis -Watch recording 

2022, Photojournalism Nights, Imperial College, London - Nov 23rd Link
2022, Horsham Photographic Society talk - 'Documentary Projects', Horsham, 20th April
2021, The Documentary Photographer Podcast - 'Photographing Cancer when You're the Patient' by Roger Overall
2021, Brighton & Hove Camera Club talk by Carly, 26th January 7.30-9.45pm
2019, Photography on  a Postcard, Summer Exhibition, Spitalfields July 1-8th
2016, In Scope, Middlesex University MA Photography Graduate Showcase, Four Corners Gallery, London 22-28Feb
2015, Portrait Salon, The EmbassyTea Gallery, London, 18-22 Nov | The Reminders Photography Stronghold Gallery, Tokyo
2014, The Curated Ego: 'Selfie' discussion by StudioSTRIKE, National Portrait Gallery,  London, 16 Jan Youtube video Link:
2014, Portrait Salon: Fuse Art Space, Bradford: 10 Jan - 8 March
2013, Portrait Salon: Four Corners Gallery, London, Edinburgh, Brighton, Leeds: 12 Nov
2012, Middlesex University Show, Underground Gallery, London: 13 June - 2 July
2012, Middlesex University BA Photography Degree Show, Old Truman Brewery, London: 8-11 June


Using Format