What’s your creative practise?
Creative Direction, Photography and Styling.
Tell me about ‘Untitled Streets’.
Untitled Streets is a project about style, personality,
identity and age. I know that sounds like a lot of things when it’s written
down, but really when I capture street portraits it is very simple. It is
simply what stands out to me when I see someone on the street. Everybody has a
character and everybody has something unique about themselves. This is the
challenge of the project, to capture and research what it is that makes someone
unique. The exciting part? I never know who I’m going to meet and photograph.
Do you think Leeds has its own personality and how does it
differ from other cities?
Definitely, Leeds is full of character. It’s a place of
arts, music and is full of different environments to explore. There is a lot of
personality in this city but that’s what’s great about Leeds. People welcome
you with open arms. Compared to other cities, northerners are a lot friendlier.
If I was doing this project in London, everyone is a bit more rushed and busy,
and do not have the time to stop and chat. I also don’t know where I’d go in
London to meet the types of interesting people I’ve met in Leeds.
What is the most important thing for you to portray through
these photos?
It’s mainly what they have to say about themselves. What
they’re wearing is obviously important, and what initially catches my eye. It’s
also really great when they’re interested in my project, not everyone is, and
it varies from person to person. I’ve tried to focus on the older generation,
and those that are seen less in the media.
Has it been difficult to find people who want to be
photographed?
Yes that’s been the main worry about doing this project, I
have 16 photographs altogether from December 2014 to now and that is quite a
lot considering how many people hate having their photograph taken! That factor
does need to be taken into consideration when doing a project like this, and
also where the photograph is going people always want to know that. I’ve had to
be clear and precise about my aim when talking to strangers, it takes a lot of
courage, but I have learnt a lot.
What’s the most interesting story you’ve heard?
I met Jean in Easter holidays who is my oldest participant,
she is 86. She lost some fingers due to a coal mine accident and then whilst I
was taking the photograph she starting mumbling the song ‘smile’ I asked her if
she liked that song, and she said she sings it everyday because her husband
died recently and they used to sing it together. I met twins Sylvia and Susan
and they were great. They also did a studio shoot for my self-published book
and that was a lot of fun. Its great that they were happy to get involved as
the whole project is a celebration of senior style.
Do you plan on continuing this work into your future
professional practise?
I think I will, but as I won’t be living in Leeds anymore
come the summer I will definitely start another project like this, it has been
stressful, but I’m pleased I carried on because I was really close to giving up
at many points.
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