A photography book of beautiful, intimate portraits exploring the realities of living with cystic fibrosis up to and beyond the median predicted survival rate of 47.

47 / A Life With Cystic Fibrosis - image 1 - student project

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic condition that affects around 10,400 people in the UK. It affects the lungs, digestive system and other organs in the body. While CF requires a complex and lifelong combination of medication, treatments and physiotherapy there is currently no cure. It can be an incredibly isolating illness as due to cross infection, people with CF aren’t allowed to meet in person. It’s a life-limiting condition and the average life expectancy is currently 47 years old.

47 / A Life With Cystic Fibrosis - image 2 - student project

With 47 / A Life With Cystic Fibrosis I set out to study how this number affects the attitudes and opinions of people diagnosed with CF at various stages of their journey. Over the course of a year I visited each person in this book, shot their portrait and chatted to them about their life, their attitude to the condition and their hopes and dreams for the future. I was fascinated to know whether these changed as people approached (and passed) 47. Each portrait is shot in the same style, with the same lighting and presented in black and white. I chose this approach to remove the distraction and focus on the individual in the picture and their unique experience.

For every book sold, £5 is donated to the Cystic Fibrosis Trust to support the incredible work they do every day to support those affected by CF and to help work towards a cure.

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Simon Wiffen

Freelance Web Developer & Photographer

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