Using the traditional street photography methodology of being unrestricted by pre-conceived project ideas, these pictures were taken over a 10 year period.

“After a little while, I began to notice the humble park bench featuring in a fair number of the pictures I had taken. There seemed to be a certain poignancy about the characters seen here. I couldn’t help but begin to think about constructing stories about their lives or situations. It was interesting to think about this in relation to the people who had been here before–memorialised by the plaques on the benches”

The series takes a candid and unposed look at the residents and visitors to Worthing.

In contrast to people resting, reflecting or meeting on the benches, others are seen living their lives around
''Hopefully, I’ve shown a degree of humour and pathos in the pictures. It’s kind of how I feel about living here and I can’t help but think one day my name might be engraved on a park bench as well”

Justin Sainsbury lives in Worthing with his family.
He is a member of the international photography collective- Burn My Eye.