The official election photographer
Simon Roberts will have an unusual perspective on the election. He will see it from under the dark hood of his large format camera, as he travels the country in a mobile home.
The Brighton based photographer has been asked to produce a photographic record of the election contest for display in the House of Commons.
It is the first time a photographer has been asked to be the election artist, commissioned by the Speaker's Advisory Committee on Works of Art.
Simon sees it as a true responsibility, a chance to capture a slice of history. Rather than look for strange angles or effects he says the use of a large format camera slows the process down "Even if a scene is quite mundane it is still important."
"I hope that the multi-layered and detailed tableaux images will provide an enduring and unique artistic response"
"My main focus will be the relationship between politicians and the voting public: you and me."
And he's reflecting that democratic process by offering other photographers a chance to show their pictures alongside his at theelectionproject.co.uk.
Simon thinks that pictures uploaded from mobile phones will provide a contrast.
"This will add a collaborative and democratic dimension to the final artwork. The public's images will also help to provide an antidote to the more stage-managed photographs increasingly seen of the campaign trail."
We caught up with him for this Sunday's Politics Show in the South of England, photographing the launch of the Green Party's campaign.


Welcome to the hustings! I'm Peter Henley, the BBC's political reporter in the south of England. From parish councils in Sussex, to European politics in Oxford, this is the blog for you.
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