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Brits Abroad: Photographer captures sun-seeking holidaymakers in Benidorm

"Back in July, I visited the infamous holiday resort of Benidorm – the jewel of the Costa Blanca", opens photographer Garrod Kirkwood's artist's statement.

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All images courtesy of Garrod Kirkwood. Via direct submission to Creative Boom.

All images courtesy of Garrod Kirkwood. Via direct submission to Creative Boom.

"Dripping in 1970s holiday nostalgia, it was the ideal platform to form a personal documentary project. I spent five days capturing the people and places, sun-drenched and bursting with colour. It almost felt like I'd stepped into an old family photo album and I wanted to capture that.

"Despite its rather tacky reputation, I found the place to be a lot of fun", explains the London-based advertising photographer, who has worked in the industry for over 10 years.

"Over the years, visual storytelling has led me to some fantastic places, working with great people. From photographing Samuel L. Jackson in the California desert to putting a car in a back-yard swimming pool, every day is different and presents new challenges. In my opinion, it’s the most rewarding career in the world."

Discover more at garrodkirkwood.com.

Beachgoers in Benidorm shade themselves with blue and patterned umbrellas while sunbathing on the sand
Aerial view of two sunbathers on striped beach loungers on golden sand in bright sunlight, casting shadows across the ground
Woman in orange swimsuit standing on rocky beach looking out at turquoise sea in Benidorm
Lone swimmer in turquoise sea off the coast of Benidorm, surrounded by calm water and gentle waves
A shirtless man stretches on a balcony with turquoise railings, towering apartment blocks with colourful balconies visible behind him in bright sunlight
Modernist apartment building with terracotta balconies shot from below against a hazy sky, with golden foliage visible on the right
McDonald's golden arches sign between pastel-coloured apartment buildings with palm trees in Benidorm
A shirtless man sits on a golf buggy beneath a sun canopy in a sandy courtyard surrounded by apartment buildings in Benidorm
Dried grasses and orange flowers grow from a planter on a white wall beside a small window in Benidorm
Aerial view of Benidorm's beachfront showing colourful apartment buildings, swimming pools and sunbathers on sandy beaches surrounded by palm trees
Aerial view of Benidorm beach with turquoise sea, white sand, sunbathers and rows of striped parasols and beach loungers along the shore
Man on a mobility scooter and shirtless man jogging on a promenade with Benidorm beach and colourful parasols in the background
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