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A person with blonde hair is submerged in bright blue water. Air bubbles swirl around their head and face as they look downwards.

Photography: Hilarious and sometimes hard-hitting work here from Jen Osborne

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Date
20 August 2013

Going through Jen’s portfolio is a bit of an emotional roller coaster. One minute you’re laughing at a naked man’s naughty bits as he sits astride a horse while being laughed at by another horse, and the next you’re looking at a series of photographs of heroin addicts in the park.

The jolty feeling that Jen gives you is actually incredibly refreshing – here’s a photographer who’s willing to go into undesirable situations to meet the people who dwell in them and not remain a bystander; Jen gets them involved. In her Wig Outs series Jen shoots marginalised women before and after they get dressed for the day, the common similarity they all share being some kind of wig. In Llama Love, Jen visits an elderly health centre where every few months some llamas come to visit to cheer everyone up, and the photos of this are just so, so beautiful.

A close-up of a person’s open mouth showing gold grills over several teeth. Some of the gold covers are studded with small red and clear gemstones.
Above

Jen Osborne: Bounce

A naked person sits astride a brown horse in a shallow lake. Beside them, another brown horse stands in the water with its mouth open.
Above

Jen Osborne: Singles

A large cluster of yellow, orange and green balloons fills a brown plaid armchair. The scene is set in a room with pink walls, decorated with framed photos and white curtains.
Above

Jen Osborne: Singles

A high-angle shot of a table covered in a food-themed tablecloth, with two plates of half-eaten meals. A person’s hand and foot are visible at the edge of the frame.
Above

Jen Osborne: Singles

Two people kiss in a dimly lit room. One wears a black top and gold jewellery, while the other wears a grey T-shirt and a cap.
Above

Jen Osborne: Singles

An alpaca stands in a living room, leaning its head towards a person in a wheelchair. Another person in a red jacket looks on, while a third person reclines on a sofa in the foreground.
Above

Jen Osborne: Llama Love

A group of people dance and lean over a wooden table in a dimly lit room. They wear a variety of tight-fitting clothes, including black dresses and striped skirts.
Above

Jen Osborne: Bounce

A person with blonde hair is submerged in bright blue water. A large, shimmering bubble of air clings to their forehead and face, obscuring their features.
Above

Jen Osborne: Singles

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About the Author

Liv Siddall

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Liv joined It’s Nice That as an intern in 2011 and worked across online, print and events, and was latterly Features Editor before leaving in May 2015.

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