Amaan Ali, 'In the Quiet Heart'

In the Quiet Heart is a quiet exploration of the moments that often slip by unnoticed in places designed for  connection. Set within a summer camp in Devon, UK, this series looks at the subtle, shifting emotional  landscapes of teenagers as they move through group rituals, unspoken expectations, and their private  inner worlds. 

Growing up, I imagined summer camps through the softened lens of cinema — as places of friendship,  adventure, and belonging. But when I arrived at a predominantly French camp to work as a photographer and fashion coach, I noticed how between the laughter and games, there were moments of longing. Teens sitting alone by the pool, gazing out of windows, or quietly lingering at the edges of groups. Even in spaces built for connection, solitude quietly finds its place. 

Many of the camp’s activities — rifle shooting, laser tag — still carried traces of their older purpose: once designed to toughen boys into men. While those origins may be forgotten, their echoes remain in the  language and rituals of these spaces. Words like “kill” shouted in play reveal how easily old ideas about  strength and dominance are passed on. These casual remnants of power, play, and old masculine ideals  continue to surface, even in places that now aim to be more inclusive. 

In the Quiet Heart lingers in those tender, often overlooked spaces where solitude and introspection weave through the backdrop of collective joy. These images ask viewers to look beyond the familiar, curated  imagery of youth camps and pause for a moment with what’s usually left unseen.