‘I wanted to photograph quieter moments behind the public spectacle’

Appleby 2026, a photo series by David Sladek

Appleby Horse Fair has become one of the most memorable and meaningful events I have ever photographed. It is also, without doubt, one of the most visually powerful gatherings I have experienced. This year was my third visit to Appleby with a camera, and although I had photographed the fair twice before, this visit felt different.

On my previous trips, I naturally focused on the most iconic and photogenic parts of the fair: horses being washed in the river, the flash, the markets, the stalls, the selling of horses in the streets, the crowds, the gambling, and the energy that surrounds the event. These scenes are extraordinary and full of life, but this year I wanted to look elsewhere. I decided to spend more time around the families and Travellers who had come to Appleby, especially in the camps around the fair. I wanted to photograph quieter moments, family life, private time, and the human atmosphere behind the public spectacle.

Originally, I had hoped to travel with one of the families by carriage on the way to Appleby. Unfortunately, work commitments meant that I could only arrive on Wednesday, by which time it was too late to join that journey. It remains something I would very much like to photograph on a future visit. This was certainly not my last time at Appleby. There is still so much more to see, understand, and photograph.

Despite the weather, which was fresh and cold rather than summery, my experience was overwhelmingly positive. Much of the heavy rain that had been forecast thankfully stayed away, and I was able to camp on Fair Hill to stay close to the families and the life of the fair. I met many incredible and beautiful people who were open, kind, willing to share their stories, and happy to be photographed. I came away with very warm memories.

At the same time, this year’s fair also felt quieter and more heavily policed than I remembered from my previous visits. Many Travellers spoke about what they felt was heavy-handed policing, especially around the use of facial recognition. There was clear pushback against this within the community, although some people also acknowledged that the operation may have made the fair feel safer. Personally, I sensed a larger and more intense police presence, and the atmosphere on the High Street, around the pubs, and even by the river seemed more subdued than in previous years. The high-water level also affected the traditional washing of the horses, which was only allowed later on Friday.

My own way of photographing remains very simple. I travel light, using one camera and one fixed 28mm lens. I try to be among people, close to the life around me, and although I always share photographs with people who pose for me, the images I choose for my projects are usually the unposed ones. I prefer natural moments, small gestures, and honest encounters. This year, Appleby gave me many of them.

Photographs and words (c) David Sladek. Published by the Travellers Times with permission.