Contents

Student Nurse

Train Mechanic

Police Officer

Bar Worker

Fire Fighter

Security Guard

Night Driver

This book combines abstract photography with interviews from people who work at night. They explained how it affected them and their own experiences. The people we talked to have a diverse range of occupations, backgrounds and ages.

Student Nurse

“As a student I first found it hard to adjust to doing night shifts, I found it difficult to sleep during the daylight hours and this left me feeling tired on the wards. Now I’m used to working at night and the lights on the wards are so bright and I’m so busy that I don’t realize that it is night time until I look outside and see the city in the dark.”

Alice Mann - 19

“The only time I realise that

it is night time is when I look

outside the windows and see

the city in the dark.”

Alice Mann - 19

Train Mechanic

“Working as a train mechanic I’m spending most my times work-

ing night shifts, they’re not as bad as you may think, most of time

they are quiet. The only bit of light you get is when the trains are

coming past and when I’m working in the tunnels, you have spot-

lights so you can see, which lights up most of tunnel and then

you will have the sparks coming of the welders and various other

tools. I’ve got so used to working at night now I find it strange

working during the day, especially when trains are going past me,

I’m waiting to see the lights coming towards me.”

Kieron Sayer - 22

Police

“Working as a Police Officer we do a lot of our shifts during

the night, which can be difficult as the crime rate is higher. It

can be a stressful and fast paced job, the sirens and lights are

essential in the dark for us to get places faster and to warn

people of our presence.”

Anonymous

Bar Worker

“I enjoy working through the night as it doesn’t affect my

social life, as I can still see my friends during my work and

after. Also I’m earning money whilst still basically being

out. Working behind the bar we get the opportunity to

learn tricks when serving and mixing drinks, this can

be fun but not when you drop the customers drink or

expensive bottles of alcohol.”

Chris Wilson - 22

Fire Fighter

“Battling a fire at night is a lot different, everything seems so

much worse. The brightness of the flames can be blinding

at times, especially when you have been sitting practically

in the dark for hours; you forget how bright they can be.”

“It is a rewarding job but can be strenuous, especially at

night, a lot of the time I will be doing nearly a 24-hour shift

so keeping a good level of concentration can be tough.

Working the night shifts has its pros and cons. Most of

the time it’s quite quiet. The worst part of the night shifts

is when its just starting to get dark, seeing people going

home from work and knowing you are going to be there

till 5am.”Jack Saywell - 42

Security Guard

“I’ve adapted to working during the night

because I have been doing it so long. I’m

really comfortable within my job, and it

has become something I enjoy as I like my

own company. ”

Heather Fisher - 46

Night Driver

“The worst thing about driving

at night is the long journeys. I

find it difficult to stay alert and

focussed on the road.”

John Lees - 54