Fotograaf Lee Jeffries over zijn beleving
en aanpak van het fotograferen van dakloze mensen die, aldus het interview, ‘penetrerende’
foto’s opleveren..
Lee Jeffries is a photographer who
captures more than just pictures. He lives in the United Kingdom, and
photographs life, particularly of the homeless. Now, his portraits are open
books, each one almost penetrating you with the tale of that someone gazing
right back at you.
“The
first time I went to Skid Row I was so scared I had to physically force myself
to get out of the car. Once I had done…made that first move…I never looked
back. I was greeted with warmth and I showed that same respect back to homeless
population. Homeless people are just that, homeless. It could happen to anyone
of us and in that respect they are just the same as you and I.”
“I
don’t photograph every homeless person I see. I have had to have recognized
something in them that I would consider would fit the emotional element I
demand from my images. Having recognized that quality I play by the rules. I’m
always polite…stay and talk for as long as they are comfortable having me
there, offer them something be it food/money or even just a hug. I’m looking to
capture an emotion and being so close allows me to do that. I wouldn’t get
anything nearly as intimate if I was way across the street as indeed I was when
I first started out on this process.”
“There
are fun moments. Dangerous moments. Upsetting moments. I sometimes have to sit
and hold hands whilst stories of rape…and worse are recounted. Witnessing the
sense of community on skid row is heartwarming. Just sitting for a while with anyone
of them talking shit is more often than not hilarious for both of us. It all
takes its toll. Good and bad.”
“I
sometimes show my subjects the image I capture in camera. They always smile.
Unfortunately they almost never get to see the final artistic piece I produce.
I process, predominately through dodge and burn, to develop the mood of the
eyes. It’s the eyes that attracted me to take the photograph in the first place
and this is always the starting point for the emotional element of the image.”
Fijn om te horen date en beetje
bang zijn in het begin dus niet erg is, en ik verder vooral veel moet
knuffelen, handjes vasthouden en dodge en burnen :P
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