Growing up is something we all have to do. It’s not one fast, straight jump from scraped knees and sloppy first kisses to sensible shoes and office stationery though. Coming-of-age involves delving from one side of the gulf to the next, reliving our youth while grappling with the growing responsibilities of life.

“Second Adolescence” is a series by Brighton-based photographer Ben Gore, as he explores this timely stepping stone. Gore’s transition is documented in a year’s worth of images, journeying from his quiet suburban family home to his new life and all its exciting changes. He describes it as personal and relatable, an intimate tale that’s honest and raw.

“It was my first time living away from home and working full time, and, as I was in a new place, I was seeing with fresh eyes,” says Gore. “The photos themselves are moments that caught my eye as part of the experience of growing up. They're fleeting sights that I had an emotional response to. Through shooting, my friends and I become characters in a story that I'm visually narrating.”

Brighton was his second youth, as a “lovely, friendly, creative place with very much a DIY ethos,” Gore explains. It’s where young people can make mistakes and learn from them, live and be free, which his images of himself and his friends lives reflects.

Gore has learnt a lot: discovering himself and who he wants to be, the conflict between freedom and responsibility, and how quickly life can change. Gore observes: “The best way to be an adult seems to just live as playfully as possible and try and foster a sense of wonder in the world, while still knowing how to handle your responsibilities as an adult.”

Check out more of Ben Gore’s work here and buy “Second Adolescence” here