The regular readers of my blog will notice that I put up a press release about the INSIDE OUT and Proud! Project a few weeks ago and in the meantime we have been working hard to organise a group of people who would best represent the project and photograph them. We, in this case is myself and Michelle Savage, big boss at Shelly Telly TV who I am collaborating with on this project. Apart from being an excellent filmmaker, Michelle is also deeply involved in Norwich Pride. We met as participants of the Business Growth Programme at the UEA a few months ago, and a few creative collaborations have stemmed from the group, including the INSIDE OUT and Proud! project.
I have always believed that there should always be a part of my work that is involved in Social issues. I would like my work to be socially useful, to create dialog and make people look at issues differently. Social inclusion for me is a subject very close to heart. I believe in equality and making sure each member in the community is respected whatever their colour, creed or gender. I think it is important not just to feel and think in this way but also to live in this way and do somehting about it.
Luckily, I came across the INSIDE OUT project which provided me an ideal platform for me to work from, and it was only natural that I collaborated with Shelly on the project. Norwich Pride has grown so much in recent years. However I am amazed it has been going on for only 4 years. So what was happening before that? So things haven't really been so open and easy for the LBGT community here. However, Norwich Pride is managed by an amazing group of people, several of whom I got to know whilst sorking on this project, and they have achieved so much in this short period of time. Big kudos to them.
All the participants in the project were photographed with a 50mm 1.4 Nikkor, either in natural light or via tungsten lighting with additional fill from a video light. The participants were asked to think about how they felt at the moment. Some chose to look directly, and nearly all required very little prompting to achieve the intensity of the image which was photographed. I admire the them all as I appreciate how difficult is is to be photographed in such a way.
Name: Di Cunningham
Personal Statement: "4th year of Norwich Pride! All Good!"
Name: Anthony Phillips
Personal Statement: "My name is Anthony,
Anglo-American, 42 years old. I live in Norfolk and actively campaign
for those in my community with HIV/AIDS. I look a bit stern and intense
yet forlorn in this photo as I had just recently lost a very good friend
who helped me through one of the darkest episodes of my life. I wish to
dedicate this image to that person."
Name: Stevie Read
Personal Statement: "Somewhere over the rainbow
skies are blue, and the dreams that you dare to dream really do come
true". I love singing with the Pride choir.
Name: Michelle Savage
Personal Statement: "This is how I feel on the
day of Norwich Pride, just after the Parade has reached the Forum,
feeling amazing, feeling proud, feeling relieved!"
Name: Eloise O'Hare
Personal Statement: I've been gay all my life. I don't know how to tell my boyfriend.
Eloise O'Hare
Eloise O'Hare
Name: Sally Chix
Personal Statement: "No one knows the story behind my picture, except me, my God and
maker, and if I have to justify it I will do so with him or her not you
!. Proud and still standing."
Name: Sean Seraphim
Personal Statement: " I am never proud to be
anything but myself. If opening my heart and mind to accept other people
for who they are is something to be proud of then i welcome it. I am
proud to share an honest heart and mind with like minded others and
those still catching up x"
Name: Michael Stonard
Personal Statement: "I'm thinking about Shelly Telly at the moment. She makes people smile!"
Name: Julie Bremmer
Personal Statement: 'This was taken at Future
Radio during the Pride Live! show. I love DJing and raising the profile
of the LGBT community in Norfolk so I feel excited and happy."
Name: Kim Gibson
Personal Statement: " Very happy and excited about Norwich Pride 2012 and all the good thing to come in the future!!"
Name: Gary Fox
Personal Statement: "
'It’s not who someone is or
what they are that matters - it’s how someone makes you feel that’s
important. Embracing equality and valuing everyone that’s what Norwich
Pride means to me'. xx
The photos and supporting statements have now all been uploaded to the INSIDE OUT site and we are awaiting processing and delivery of the posters.
More updates from me soon about how this progresses and with our plans on displaying the exhibition.
Keep following! :)
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I was sent this lovely comment by Haya Al-Dajani, Lecturer and Associate Director at the Norwich Business School....
ReplyDelete"pictures really do speak 1000 words! I’m so pleased that the UEA Business Growth Programme facilitated the collaboration between Shelly and Antonella. I look forward to hearing more about the progress of this joint venture."
Thank you Haya! :)