While studying the experiences of people living with Young Onset Parkinson’s Lewis Johnstone found it was difficult for participants to always find the right words.

In a bid to help find those words, he suggested people take photos of the everyday things in their life that reminded them of the condition. Soon he was presented with a collection of images that captured the everyday experiences of living with Parkinson’s.

At first, he said he made assumptions about the images and their meanings, but as he read the accompanying blurbs, he began to understand the complexities of daily life.

An image of every day objects could represent hope or despair, a sign of abilities still held or ones yet to be lost. Over and over, Lewis said, people living with Young Onset Parkinson’s will mourn changing parts of their lives. These images help understand that.

Though a byproduct of the research project, Lewis did not want these images to go unseen, and with the approval of the participants, has curated them into an exhibition launching in March.

You can view the images, and read the meanings behind them, from 10 March to 30 March at the Box Hill Community Arts Centre.

Lewis hopes the project encourages viewers to think about Parkinson’s in a new way and inspire movement and development towards a better future for those living with Parkinson’s.