Mr. Julian Germain has made images for nearly 30 years and I’ve gone almost as long without ever hearing of him (but a lady doesn’t disclose her age). Well I’m glad I know him now – this Northumberland-er’s got a knack for tackling tired subjects with a fresh eye. Family portraits are as old as the Renaissance, but with Generations (an ongoing project since 2005) Germain brings innovation to the tradition, capturing an openness and vulnerability others tend to miss. Through his lens we peer not just into a living room, but into the soul of a family – four or even five stages of life as it passes like a thread through the heart.