![Abandoned armchair in a poorly maintained street](https://woofermagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/DSCF5636-9-1-1024x661.jpg)
TITLE : BEHIND THE SMILES
SERIES
AUTHOR : NICK BARKWORTH
‘Behind the smiles’ is a collection of photographs that explores the often less travelled streets that sit behind Blackpool’s ‘Golden Mile’.
Blackpool stands as a testament to a bygone era, where glitz, glamour, and nostalgic charm collide.
While the town may bear the signs of its faded grandeur, it continues to bring in the visitors from near and far, making it a cherished tourist destination. The sandy beaches, though not as bustling as they once were, still offer a retreat for sunseekers, and the seafront arcades evoke a sense of nostalgia and memories childhood of weekend breaks.
A few hundred metres behind the promenade, beyond the vibrant tapestry of Blackpool lies a stark contrast, where the allure of a tourist hotspot is juxtaposed against the realities faced by its residents.
While visitors revel in the nostalgic charm and entertainment on offer, the town’s inhabitants grapple with the harsh realities of living in an economic depression that is felt much more acutely than many areas. The vibrant tourist industry, though a lifeline for the town, often fails to bridge the gap between the visitor experience and the lived reality of the locals.
It is in this space that the photographs which make up this collection are taken. Behind the hotels, behind the amusements, behind the fast food outlets, behind the nostalgia and laughter…….behind the smiles.
![facades of old buildings broken windows and doors](https://woofermagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/DSCF1651-2-1-683x1024.jpg)
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FOCUS ON MIGUEL ÁNGEL BLANCO
Miguel Angel Blanco composes his images with the light, colors and geometries that his eyes are able to see.
![](https://woofermagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/12-300x200.jpg)
FOCUS ON MATS ALFREDSSON
In this new “Focus on” we discover the street work from the Swedish photographer Mats Alfredsson.
![yellow van bed with whole family posing](https://woofermagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/MATTHEWS-fAMILY7401-copy-1-300x200.jpg)
AMERICAN BEDROOM
After seven years of work,, Barbara Peacock is ready to publish “America Bedroom”, a photobook in which she portrays Americans in their bedrooms.
![](https://woofermagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/giuseppe-perretta_woofermagazine_02-300x200.jpg)
FOCUS ON GIUSEPPE PERRETTA
Giuseppe Perretta between the physical and emotional landscape.
![](https://woofermagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Woofer_GRALL_06-300x200.jpg)
STRANDED
This series by Swedish photographer Gustav Gräll takes us to discover beach life.
![](https://woofermagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/anthony_reed_ordos_04.1-300x240.jpg)