People don’t often think of gangsterism in a positive way, but this incredible series will showcase that change is possible.
Portrait of an ex-gangsters family is a project that takes a look at the alternative reality behind the life of a former gang member and the way their lifestyle could have affected their family. By changing their lives and exiting gang life they get the opportunity to change the ending and be a part of their family portrait.
The series of family portraits continues my work on gangsterism by taking a look at what their family portrait could have looked like if they didn’t change their life. The empty chair symbolises the loss many families of gang members deal with.
By photographing these men with their families they also become more relatable as the audience now sees them as a father, husband, brother and son. By changing their lives and exiting gang life they get the opportunity to be a part of their family portrait.
It was important to me to show these men in this context and to show what things could have looked like if they didn’t change their lives. I hope the campaign also makes those who are still involved in gang activity think about their lives.
I wanted to do a project on gangsterism but instead of focus on the sensationalism that surrounds it I wanted to look at the human element and the social issues that fuel gangsterism. I created a series of intimate portraits of reformed gang members titled The Interrupters in collaboration with Ceasefire Hanover Park.
Ceasefire makes use of reformed gang members who work as professional violence interrupters to reduce gang violence. While working on The Interrupters over the course of a year I spent a lot of time with the guys, visiting them at their homes and also getting to know their families.
This made me realise that these guys are not only ex-gangsters but that they are also someone’s husband, father, brother and son. After spending a lot of time getting to know their families I also realised the impact that the change they made in their lives had on their families.
The change was not only centred around them but had a ripple effect impacting much further. I became intrigued by the idea of reworking the traditional family style portrait with new subject matter. And so the idea of a portrait of an ex-gangsters family was formed.
I wanted to create a traditional style family portrait but I didn’t want it to look like it was shot in a studio environment. So I decided to shoot from further back to expose the backdrop and stands and the church hall where we shot the series to further challenge the traditional family portrait.
While working on the first series of portraits I attended a couple of funerals of gang members I met in the area while working with the guys. When I started conceptualising the family portraits I realised that if they didn’t change their lives and exit gang life they wouldn’t have been around for their family photo. I decided to do a second portrait of the family with an empty chair to symbolise what their family portrait could have looked like. I also want to use it as a tool to make people, who are still involved in gang activity, think about what their future will look like.
Shooting the series had several challenges. I shot them over two sessions which were spread out over three months. I set up the first shoot day, but on the day a lot of families cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances or certain family members not being able to make it. I felt disheartened and a bit frustrated and realised that getting all the family members together on one day may be a bit more tricky than I anticipated. After the first session I tried to book another date with the families but due to escalated gang violence in the area it became more difficult and the shoot was postponed several times. I then very unexpectedly had to undergo knee surgery and so I was unable to shoot for another month. We finally set another date and I took a chance and hoped that it would all work out.
Gang violence was still very high due to gang war raging in the area and so it was very unpredictable. I had my partner and an intern with me to help and so I was very worried about their safety. After we finished the shoot I was packing the gear outside with my partner when I heard two gunshots go off just behind the church. I knew that this was our cue to leave and we made a hasty exit.
My work is focussed around gangsterism and so I wanted to take a new look at an old problem and show people a different side with these photographs. The series really highlights the change they made by exiting gang life in the most relatable form — a family portrait. The empty chair becomes such a powerful symbol of what could have been and highlights the change even more.
People don’t often think of gangsterism in any positive way, but I want people to know that change is possible.
I hope it makes people think and feel something. It should be thought provoking and emotive. We can all relate to the idea of family and that is why it was important for me to show these guys within a family context. By looking at what their family portrait could have looked like you allow people the space to think about how our actions impact our future and how things can look very different.
by 