The aim of this assignment
was to create images for an article in an intelligent travel magazine, giving a
considered, in depth treatment of a specific area.
My early twenties were
spent living in Brighton around the North Laine area of the town; a brightly
coloured quarter, housing mostly independent shops giving the whole area a
feeling of individuality. Many of the storefronts are adorned with graffiti
art, giving the area a distinct look. I chose to spend a weekend in Brighton to
capture a sense of the people and place of the area.
In order to get down to the
roots of the of the North Laines, I felt that I needed to photograph the people
who’s lives are centred there, which meant untangling locals from tourists. In
a bid to find true residents, I decided to enlist the help of some shopkeepers.
Knowing that many shops have
a no photography policy, I contacted several shops in the area to gain
permission to photograph on their premises and to gather some willing models.
Wells considers the most obvious test of authenticity to be ‘whether what is in
front of the lens to be photographed has been tampered with, set up or altered
by the photographer’. Wells 1996
I knew that by contacting
shops in advance, I was compromising the authenticity of the shoots; models may
choose different clothing or wear more make up than on a normal day. I felt
that this was a worthwhile risk in order to gain the trust of storeowners and
therefore, a more positive response.
Eve Arnold gained the trust
of her subjects by treating them with courtesy and compassion.
“…what you want to do,
you want to go as deeply into them as people as you can, but usually what
happens, if you’re careful with people and if you respect their privacy, they
will offer you part of themselves that you can use, and that is the big
secret,” Arnold 2001
I felt it vital to reassure
all concerned that I would aim to get the required shots as quickly as possible
without disturbing their working environment. I made appointments as close to
store opening times as possible in order to catch them at their least busy
times. Due the quick fire nature of the shoots, I knew that I wouldn’t have
time to reach into my models’ personalities, so I aimed to be as respectful and
amiable as possible during the few moments in each environment. I instructed
models to carry on with their working day while I captured a few shots and
left, informing them that I would provide them with copies to use as they wish.
The images used
were:
Gunns Florist: flower shop
with a graffiti art storefront
To Be Worn Again: vintage
and retro wear
Jump the Gun: Mod clothing
and memorabilia
Across the Tracks: record
shop selling mainly vinyl
Oddballs: skating and
juggling equipment
Punktured: body piercing studio
and shop
I chose to shoot a combination of
indoor and outdoor for variety; indoor shots showing people in their working
environment while the outdoor shots give a view of the vibrant colours of the
area. While my main aim was to photograph people as they worked, in some stores
this was difficult without customers to serve, so a few of the shoots include
posed portraits.
The images I have chosen show some examples
of the vibrant storefronts and give a feel of the nature of the area. The
chosen shops are representative of the alternative fashion and music scene
which is so prominent in the North Laine and other areas of Brighton.
