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Page last updated at 11:51 GMT, Wednesday, 30 September 2009 12:51 UK

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In pictures: The East Anglians

Norfolk, 2006. Digital c-type print, 68 x 50 inches by Justin Partyka

A new exhibition of photographs by Justin Partyka, opens at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts at the University of East Anglia, Norwich, on Tuesday, 29 September, 2009. (All photos by Justin Partyka)

Norfolk, 2004. Digital c-type print, 30 x 20 inches by Justin Partyka

The exhibition explores an agrarian way of life in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. Images of Norfolk feature prominently and include sugar beet farming near Knapton, carrot harvesting and turkey plucking.

Norfolk, 2005. Digital c-type print, 30 x 20 inches by Justin Partyka

"[East Anglia] is a place where traditional methods and knowledge are still very much depended upon and the identity of the people is intimately shaped by the rural landscape upon which they live and work," said Justin.

Justin Partyka was born in Norfolk and began taking photos of rural East Anglia in 2001. The project contains 58 colour photographs and shows scenes in which time appears to have stood still.

Norfolk, 2006. Digital c-type print, 30 x 20 inches by Justin Partyka

"It is under the melancholy monochrome light of a still winter's day that the agrarian landscape of East Anglia best reveals its timelessness," said Justin.

Norfolk, 2008. Digital c-type print, 20 x 16 inches by Justin Partyka

"Justin Partyka's photographs portray a way of rural life that is largely forgotten or unknown," said Sarah Bartholomew, curator at the Sainsbury Centre.

Norfolk, 2005. Digital c-type print, 30 x 20 inches by Justin Partkya

"As works of art, these images move beyond the documentary to reveal his personal response to the landscape, people and places he has encountered," said Sarah.

As well as capturing arable farming methods, animals are also a strong feature in the exhibition at the University of East Anglia, showing cows, foxes, rabbits and pigs.

Suffolk, 2006. Digital c-type print, 30 x 20 inches by Justin Partyka

Highlighting change in the modern farming world, Justin said: "My work tells the story of what I see as the last of East Anglia's agrarian community."

Norfolk, 2004. Digital c-type print, 40 x 30 inches by Justin Partyka

Justin Partyka's photography exhibition, The East Anglians, opens at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts on Tuesday, 29 September, 2009, and runs until Sunday, 13 December, 2009.