Born in the Northeast and sent to the South, I am currently a MFA student at Louisiana State University, focusing on the community around me. Feeling I was transplanted from my world and pasted into another I started yearning to make my sense of community here in Baton Rouge. Outsiders commonly view the community I live in, as dangerous and unwelcoming. As time passes by as a residence of this street, I have found this to be a misconception. My work tries to demonstrate to those who hold such views that community does exists beyond racial perceptions and “ghetto stereotypes”. Just because someone is poor does not automatically mean they are dangerous.
I began my most recent project with a goal of photographing everyone from my neighborhood. I wanted to see the people who shared the space I live. I yearned to meet the people outside my small one room studio apartment, behind my metal barred door, on this controversial street. It was just me, my camera, and a sign made from Sharpie marker that read, "Free Photographs for Neighborhood Picture Project". I greeted all passers-by, whether in cars or on foot, encouraging them to have their photo taken. I wanted to know my neighbors, and to have them feel comfortable with the fact that I we shared this space together.
Initially, I photographed them with the neighborhood as the background, but gradually constructed a neutral grey backdrop attached to my front door. This background allowed me to focus more on my subject and allow hints of the physical neighborhood landscape to creep in when I saw it relevant. Initially, response was good. However, recently the number of subjects has dramatically increased.
I photograph with a 4x5 field camera and black and white film. This camera aids in getting peoples attention and gives me credibility as an artist to my subjects. I develop and print all my photographs in a traditional wet darkroom process. Portraiture has historically been a privilege of upper class society. Even today having, a personal print made with a view camera and printed on silver paper is quite an expense. In return for helping me build my sense of community, I give a gelatin silver print to every one of my neighbors, a luxury that many of them would not have in today's world. I have included a few of my most memorable subjects, and plan to continue this project until I can include all of those who want to be a part of it.