Exploring Port Talbot: Roo Lewis’s Photographic Journey Beyond UFOs
Welcome to this edition of [book spotlight]. Today, we uncover the layers of 'Port Talbot UFO Investigation Club,' by Roo Lewis (published by GOST Books). We'd love to read your comments below about these insights and ideas behind the artist's work.
Imagine a town where steel towers pierce the sky and legends of UFOs swirl through the air. This is Port Talbot, a small industrial town in South Wales that photographer Roo Lewis explored for two years. His journey wasn’t about proving or debunking UFO sightings; it was about discovering the heart and soul of this unique place. His book, Port Talbot UFO Investigation Club, isn’t just about mysterious lights in the sky; it’s a deep dive into the lives, landscapes, and rich folklore that make Port Talbot truly special.
Inspired by actor Michael Sheen, who mentioned the town’s unusually high number of UFO sightings, Roo set out to capture the magic of Port Talbot. He found a place where the massive steelworks and breathtaking natural scenery coexist, creating a setting that’s almost otherworldly. Through his camera lens, Roo tells stories of hope, resilience, and the unbreakable spirit of the people who call this town home. The result is a book that blends the mystical with the everyday, inviting readers to see Port Talbot in a whole new light.
Initial Spark: What initially drew you to Port Talbot as the focus for this project, and why did you choose to frame the narrative around UFO sightings?
I have always been drawn to Port Talbot - We used to drive past the steelworks heading West on the M4 to visit my grandad. He was proud Welshman who worked in industry - he used to tell us it was a space station. I think everyone that has driven past Port Talbot remembers it even if they don’t know what it is or anything about it. I stayed there many years later shooting a near by project and was completely taken with how mad it was….throughout the night the sky will suddenly glow beautifully on fire (a result of the steel making process) and the town is surrounded by mountains, sand dunes, reservoirs, waterfalls it's like no place I have ever visited. I describe it as a Dreamland and everyone just walks around like it’s normal of course. When I heard Michael Sheens comments on UFOs I knew I had to do something.
I have deep love for Wales and in particular the beautiful storytelling culture. After you read some of the folklore stories and meet a few characters UFOs don't seem that out there.
Community Engagement: Can you discuss the process of engaging with the residents of Port Talbot and how you sought out individuals to share their stories and sightings?
All my interactions came through meeting people in person via a poster campaign ‘Have you seen a UFO?’ or via going up to people in pubs, on the street wherever. Once you have met a few people, and they understand your motivations are sound, you get introduced to other people in town to talk to. I enjoy building relationships with people I meet and photograph - I still go back now to visit friends there I have made for life. A lot of my work is about showing a connection to the subject and I dont think you can show this without genuinely having one. Its too easy to tell negative stories - its much harder to tell positive stories well.
Symbolism of UFOs: In your view, what do the UFO sightings represent for the people of Port Talbot, and how do these beliefs intertwine with the town's culture and folklore?
I like the discussion that surrounds the concept of UFOs - it’s a fairly harmless exercise but an important one as I believe we project our own metaphysical values via our opinions. Some people flatly don’t believe in UFOs others go to secret government spy planes, some go to aliens and so even go to god. I think the discussion gives you a window into that persons outlook because the fact is we just don’t know. I am often asked about the truth - I don’t really care about the truth I just like the stories it provokes. I heard plenty of stories about Ridley Scott and George Lucas being influenced by the Port Talbot skyline! I think the stories represent hope - as Oscar Wilde once said - we are all in the gutter but some of us are looking at the stars.
Photographic Approach: Your work is known for its empathetic and emotional portrayal of subjects. How did you approach capturing the essence of Port Talbot and its residents, and why did you choose an analogue method?
All my work is analogue aside from a few commercial commissions. I like the way film stock renders light and colour and my process involves making enlargements in the darkroom which I then scan. I like the limitations film provides - you have fewer options available to you so you are forced to work within a framework. When I am shoot something with limitless options I find it hard to choose which route to take - for me it’s a bit like saying ‘what do you want to listen to?’ and staring at an empty screen - you can listen to anything but nothing comes to mind. I think we can be our most creative with certain limitations or markers in the sand at least. Film slows things down and makes you consider the shot more and I am very comfortable shooting in that arena.
I don’t think there is a trick really to capturing an essence other than taking the time and interest to understand. There is a magic to Port Talbot - there really is. I am not sure what exactly that magic is even now but it’s in the rhythm, the history, the visual and the people. They all come together in this dreamland and thats what the book is about.
During your two years in Port Talbot, were there any stories or encounters that particularly surprised or moved you?
One of my favourite moments was meeting a UFO spotter on Dinas mountain - it’s an area with beautiful vistas over the town and the steelworks. He declined to be photographed for the book but I asked him why he looks into an empty sky - what is he looking for? He said he doesn’t know but maybe he’s lonely and maybe thats all he is qualified to be. That really stuck with me and I spent many hours thinking about it - it wasn’t until much later I realised it was a line from a Meat Loaf song.
Portrayal of Landscape: The juxtaposition of natural beauty and industrialization is a significant theme in your work. How did you approach depicting this duality in Port Talbot, and what did you hope to convey?
I see Port Talbot as a very human story - ‘big picture’ history I find difficult to get my head around but when you have a monolith, like the man made steelworks, carved into the landscape you can meet someone who works there, who’s father worked there who’s grandfather and so on. It’s a generational beacon and you can see it from every corner of the town. The metal is twisted and its pointing skyward - you are reminded, wherever you are in Port Talbot, that we are here - we exist and so did everyone else before us.
Faith and Mystery: You mention ufology as a form of faith or belief system. How do you think this reflects broader human tendencies toward faith and the unknown?
Any leap beyond what can and can’t be know is faith and as humans we do it every day in various different ways. We all buy into and believe in something…whatever that is. I think we have a low capacity for truth in general instead favouring storytelling. Folklore is a prime example of this - what better way to pass down your values to future generations then wrap them in wonderful stories which can be told, remembered and retold. We tend to be intrigued in the unknown and this breeds stories (true and false). UFO’s, Area 51, Folklore these are all prime examples of this. The reality is probably way less interesting than the stories but sometimes truth is stranger than fiction.
Personal Reflections: Having spent extensive time in Port Talbot, how has this project influenced your own perceptions of community, hope, and the human experience?
I love the human experience as an area of study. I am very familiar with people from South Wales and hope to capture that warm, tenacious outlook of the people I encounter. Since completing the project I have decided to concentrate my personal work in South Wales and have already made a start on my next project. Humans are complicated creatures - the book reflects that using the landscape and folklore. I wanted the rhythm of the book to mimic the sounds of the steelworks - a slow deliberate pace. I think people are inherently good you just need to find a common language to connect and communicate. Some of the most impactful memories we have aren’t happy ones and it’s important to remember these dreams and how they make us. Port Talbot is a dreamland and it exists in this beautifully fragile (sometimes) sad human sphere. I felt lost and found all at the same time - I love it. God bless Port Talbot and God bless beautiful Wales.
To discover more about this intriguing body of work and how you can acquire your own copy, you can find and purchase the book here. (Amazon, GOST Books, Roo’s Website)
Roo Lewis
Roo Lewis is a London-based photographer renowned for his empathetic and evocative portrayal of subjects. His diverse body of work spans from documenting Druids in the West Country to capturing Hollywood Jesus and Elvis Tribute artists in Wales. With a keen eye for the weird and wonderful, Lewis has been featured in publications like Vogue, The Guardian, and VICE, and has collaborated with brands such as Toast, Island Records, Belstaff, Sony, and Martell. His long-term projects often involve building deep trust with communities, using an analogue approach to convey the raw emotion and integrity of his subjects. Lewis’s work delves into themes of community, identity, hope, dreams, and faith, offering a poignant reflection on the human experience. (Website, Instagram)
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