Nick Haymes, a photographer originally from Stratford-upon-Avon, has chronicled the passage of time and family life through a deeply personal visual narrative spanning nearly 25 years. His new photography book, *Chronograph*, captures the growth of his two sons, Philipp and Lawrence, offering an intimate record of childhood and adolescence against the backdrop of significant historical and personal moments.

The project began in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York City, where Haymes was living at the time. The events of that day prompted him and his then-partner, Lina, to fast-track their plans to start a family. “When 9/11 happened,” Haymes said, “I realised life was very short.” This urgency shaped not only his personal life but also the direction of his photographic work.

*Chronograph* follows Philipp and Lawrence from infancy through their teenage years. The book presents candid scenes ranging from routine domestic moments—such as messy kitchens and childhood illnesses—to significant milestones like birthdays and moments of grief. Haymes’s compact Manhattan apartment, measuring just 800 square feet, served as the setting for these intimate portrayals, leaving no room to escape the emotional highs and lows of family life.

Haymes is noted for his honest depiction of his children, including unflattering and vulnerable moments. His son Lawrence once remarked that Haymes was the only parent who would photograph him while upset rather than immediately trying to soothe him. Despite this, Haymes maintains he remained attentive and connected throughout. The photography also includes numerous images of the boys in various states of undress, which Haymes says was met with their full consent. He attributes their comfort with nudity and artistic expression to exposure to other photographers in their household, emphasizing that child nudity was simply one aspect of their everyday environment rather than a provocative choice.

As the boys matured into teenagers, they adopted their own form of subtle rebellion. Rather than withdrawing from the camera, they often posed with smiles and thumbs-up gestures, signaling their desire for independence while acknowledging their father’s presence behind the lens. Haymes interpreted this as their way of asking for space without outright defiance.

Before embarking on this long-term project, Haymes experienced a turbulent youth. He initially planned to study art but dropped out amid substance abuse and personal struggles. After a period of couch-surfing in London, he found work in a photo studio and eventually assisted renowned photographer Jürgen Teller. In 1999, he fully committed to photography, carrying two cameras to capture the world around him.

*Chronograph* is both a family history and an exploration of time, creativity, and the evolving relationship between parent and child, set against the extraordinary and ordinary moments that define life.