A beautiful new series mixing high fashion and small-town faces from Tom Johnson

Tom Johnson continues to set the bar for himself higher and higher. His latest project Merthyr Rising took the London-based photographer to the ex-mining town of Merthyr Tydfil in south Wales over the summer. Shot in collaboration with stylist Charlotte James, the series sees a handful of Merthyr locals styled in high fashion pieces and photographed throughout the town, from bus stations to the local Labour Club.

Part fashion shoot, part social study, it thoughtfully brings together the two sides of Tom’s work, which have increasingly begun to align with each other. Marrying Merthyr’s industrial backdrop and the hopeful character of its working class heritage with pulled-together looks, the photographs are a study in contrasts. An exhibition featuring 20 of these images will go on show in December with an accompanying publication.

Merthyr Rising will be exhibited at Box Studio in Shoreditch from 9 to 13 December.