open carry

May 17th 2023

I was so pleased to have an opportunity to listen to Jamel Shabazz in conversation with Baldwin Lee at the International Centre of Photography's Photobook Fest. I came to know his work documenting communities in Brooklyn since the 1970s, through his book Back in the Days.

There's a warmth in that work and that was evident in his conversation with Lee who I confess was unknown to me and has recently received some long overdue acclaim. In a disarming way he also spoke of his approach to portraiture and his work with people of the American South.

It was a lesson for me. Both photographers practised their work in a very open way, building trust with, I hesitate to use the word ‘subjects’, more like collaborators, over time. The results were representations that were searingly honest but not exploitative or judgemental. i was reminded me of the approach of Dawoud Bey and that, in turn, took me to Gordon Parks, a truly legendary artist.

I’m conscious how my approach hasn’t really changed since I started back in the 80s and the pandemic, as for a lot of people, was a time of reflection. The idea of streetphotography4good and subsequent projects came out of that. I need to keep reminding myself of that.