Finding new focus: Veteran and photographer Ian McCarthy launches Agora Photography

<p dir="ltr">“When you leave the military, you lose a big part of your life,” says Ian McCarthy. “But Arts University Plymouth has given me a new start and is helping me to move on.”</p> <p dir="ltr">After two decades in the Royal Navy, with deployments to Afghanistan, Search and Rescue operations, and hospital postings, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jaie_photographyart/">Ian McCarthy</a>’s military career ended following a lymphoma diagnosis. Now in clinical remission, he’s building something new – and doing it with purpose.</p> <p>Ian is completing his <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-photography">BA (Hons) Photography</a> degree at Arts University Plymouth after beginning with the Extended BA pathway, and has just launched Agora Photography, a South West-based creative business that brings together his experience, sensitivity, and storytelling skills.</p>

<p dir="ltr">A final-year student on the BA (Hons) Photography course, Ian’s current body of work focuses on WIS (Wounded, Injured &amp; Sick) veterans, individuals whose experiences challenge stereotypical representations of injury and trauma.</p> <p dir="ltr">“They’re not all limbless, or visibly traumatised,” Ian explains. “There’s a huge variety of experiences.”</p> <p dir="ltr">His portraits, usually shot in people’s homes, are designed to be honest and collaborative, focusing on the person, not what makes them different.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I bring a pop-up backdrop, a couple of lights in an old suitcase, and I shoot with a medium format film camera. It’s all very low-pressure. It starts conversations. The idea is to create a quiet, straightforward image that doesn’t try to show what’s ‘wrong’ with someone, because that’s not the point.”<br /></p>

<p dir="ltr">“I’ve photographed seven people so far. One of them, Anna, was a nurse when I was a medic. We trained around the same time in the early 2000s. We’ve known each other for years, so that was an easy one to arrange. Everyone else has come through Facebook, veterans’ networks, word of mouth.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Getting access hasn’t always been easy. “One of the biggest challenges has been breaking through the gatekeepers in larger veteran organisations. I understand now that they must get loads of media requests, and they’re rightly protective, so I’m learning how to work with those boundaries.”<br /></p>

<p dir="ltr">Ian’s journey with the Armed Forces Para-Snowsport Team (AFPST) has been a constant thread throughout his recovery and creative development.</p> <p dir="ltr">“When I first went away with AFPST, it was a lifeline. After years of hospital treatment, they gave me something to work towards again,” he says. “I’m not a beneficiary these days, but I still go along as a supporter. I was in Méribel, France, in February, helping out and being visible. Especially for new people, it’s helpful to see someone who’s been through it and come out the other side.”<br /></p>

<p>Since joining the charity in 2018, Ian has travelled with the team to Austria, France, and Colorado, camera in hand. “It’s not just about racing or snowsports. It’s about community. There’s an unwritten rule: don’t ask how someone got injured, but if they tell you, you listen. And you have a laugh like you would with anyone else.”</p>

<p dir="ltr">Ian and fellow BA Photography student Lucy Arscott have now co-founded <a href="https://www.agoraphotography.co.uk/">Agora Photography</a>, a name inspired by the ancient Greek gathering place. “We liked the idea of photography as a space where people connect. It’s not just about the images, it’s about the conversations that happen around them.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Based in Taunton and Plymouth, Agora Photography offers services across the South West, including events, portraiture, and commercial shoots. They’ve already worked with:</p><ul><li><p dir="ltr"><strong>Looe 10-Miler</strong> — a community running event<br /></p></li><li><p dir="ltr"><strong>A Peaky Blinders-themed charity night</strong><br /></p></li><li><p dir="ltr"><strong>A military mess dinner for a retiring serviceman</strong><br /></p></li><li><p dir="ltr"><strong>The Royal Television Society Devon &amp; Cornwall Student Awards</strong></p></li></ul>

<p dir="ltr">Lucy specialises in sports and event photography, and also works with Plymouth Argyle Women’s Team, while Ian brings a documentary and lifestyle edge. “We’re not taking too many bookings before graduation,” Ian says, “but we’ve laid all the groundwork now and are making contacts with people who we feel we can offer a meaningful service to.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Their ethos is clear: personal, respectful and professional. “We don’t do cookie-cutter shoots. Every person, every event, is different. Whether we’re photographing a retirement dinner or a headshot for someone starting a new career, we treat it with the same care. Especially when it comes to veterans, I get how important trust is. I never want anyone to feel like they’re being used for a story.”<br /></p>

<p>Over the course of his studies, Ian has carved out a portfolio rooted in community, creativity and analogue practice. “From day one at Arts University Plymouth, I wanted to work with traditional film photography. I wanted to do everything myself – shoot, develop, print.”</p>

<p dir="ltr">His first year was “a lot of trial and error”, but it paid off. An image that Ian captured for a project around van life culture earned an Honourable Mention at the International Photography Awards in 2024. Later projects included a photojournalism piece on South West fishing communities, coverage of a long-distance running event, and a documentary series with Gloucester Cricket Club.</p> <p dir="ltr">“That kind of work, storytelling through images, working with real people, that’s where I’ve always felt most at home.”<br /></p>

<p dir="ltr">Ian began his journey at Arts University Plymouth through the Extended BA (Hons) Photography, a four-year route designed for students who may be returning to education or exploring a creative career for the first time.</p> <p dir="ltr">“When I started uni, I had three or four different paths in mind,” Ian says. “Now I’m coming to the end of my degree, balancing the different things I love. I’m also looking into teaching qualifications, and am interested in clinical photography, but it can be tough finding training placements for something so specialised. Between Agora photography, my work with veterans, the potential to teach, and an eye on clinical photography, I’m pretty optimistic about the future. Joining the Extended Degree gave me the space I needed to retrain and it helped me adjust from military life to academic life.”<br /></p>

<p dir="ltr">“I almost didn’t show up on my first day. I was nervous, you’re leaving behind a huge part of your identity. But the staff were amazing, especially Helen Markes. The university gave me direction, a community, a purpose.”<br /></p>

<p dir="ltr">Our BA (Hons) Photography programme equips you with the technical, critical and professional skills to thrive in a changing world. You’ll explore contemporary photography across analogue and digital platforms, guided by expert tutors with industry and artistic credentials.</p> <p dir="ltr">From documentary and fashion to fine art and editorial, the course encourages experimentation and original thinking. You’ll take part in our annual Photography Festival and present your portfolio at the Photography Symposium. Graduates exhibit their work widely and gain recognition through awards, commissions and publication.</p> <p dir="ltr">Supported by outstanding facilities, including darkrooms, infinity coves, digital suites and over 6,000 pieces of free-to-hire kit, our students develop their creative voice and graduate ready to work, teach, collaborate or launch their own businesses.</p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-photography">Explore BA (Hons) Photography</a><br /></p>

<p dir="ltr">If you’re looking to build confidence, gain foundational skills or return to education after a break, our Extended BA pathway is the ideal starting point. In your first year, you’ll experiment across creative disciplines, explore analogue and digital methods, and find your direction, all within a supportive, studio-based community.</p> <p dir="ltr">You’ll work closely with academic and technical staff, access the same specialist resources as other undergraduates, and prepare to progress onto your chosen degree course. This route is designed to build confidence, develop technical and critical skills, and help you thrive creatively.</p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/level-0-extended-degrees">Find out more about the Extended BA</a><br /></p>