5) Photoshoot 2 - Van Dwellers (Digital) - 31/1/18

As well as shooting with the Hasselblad for the xmas task, I also took my digital so I could shoot anything and everything. I'm pretty pleased with how it went for a first shoot, and the contact sheets of the images can be seen below.

After completing this first shoot I've realised how many small details are hidden within their homes which make them individual - for instance how they decorate their home in terms of the interior and exterior, the possessions they own, the pets they have. I want to document these more carefully with the Hasselblad as well as taking portraits and environmental shots. I think it's really great to shoot digital as well as film for this project, because using the digital first allows me to highlight the best details to photograph. I then also have the digital shots to fall back on if anything does happen to the film shots.

Out of the 40+ images I took, these 5 below are my favourite, and I'll elaborate on why down below.

I really like this first image because it illuminates the small details within people's homes that makes it their own. I specifically wanted to focus in on the image of Jesus hanging in the car, because I feel it underlines the helplessness these people feel towards their living situation, and who they look up to to fix it.

This is the home of Yusef and Chaimaa, a Spanish couple living by Greenbank Cemetery. I found this image really intriguing because of the writing on the door, which I later translated and found out it meant 'die again and wake up from the overdose', which I think is really sad, and it's provoked me to speak to them again next time I go back. I also want to take more photographs of their home, because I love all the decoration they've added to make it their own. It's definitely the home that draws you in most on this street.

This image is of one of Yusef and Chaimaa's dogs peaking through the back window of their caravan. I feel I've captured a really peaceful moment for the dog while he's having a look out the window. I also really like that the photograph includes their sign on the back of their caravan that reads 'FREE FOOD', because it really highlights the generous nature of this community.

I like this image so much because of how ironic it is. You can see a picture of a bedroom on the back of the van looking very spacious and chic, and then you contextualise it against the van itself, which is also someone's home. I just think there's such a crazy difference between the two, and it's a reminder to all passersby that these people don't want to live here by choice, but it's the only home they can afford.

This is a portrait of Jonathan who lives in one of the vans, and one of the nicest people I met when visiting this road for the first time, and we had a chat for about 20 minutes. This was originally just a quick snapshot just to work out which aperture I needed for the Hasselblad shot, however I ended up really liking it because of how spontaneous it was taken. I wish I had framed it a little better now, as I feel there needs more space below his feet, but I know my framing for environmental portraits will get better the more I do them.

I'm so pleased with these images for a first photoshoot, and I can't wait to go back and get to know these people more and learn about their way of living. I feel as though this is going to be a really personal project and I'm excited to document it all.

#creativeinteractions #photoshoot