Nisha, an alumni of Accumulate, a London-based
homeless arts charity, captured the cover shot of the calendar with her two theraoy dogs Chanel and Parisa. Image: Nisha Zala
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Phone boxes, deer and ravens perched in front of the Tower of London – this is the hidden side of the English capital captured by homeless photographers.
Every July, 100 Fujifilm QuickSnap single-use cameras are given out over seven days to people experiencing homelessness to take photos of the parts of London they love.
That is turned into Café Art’s MyLondon calendar which, similarly to the Big Issue, is sold by vendors around the city with sellers and photographers keeping the profits. Last year, vendors earned more than £24,000, up 50% on the previous year.
Patrizia Rossi says she was wandering around Hammersmith and bumped into Matthew and his dog Bella. “Matthew said he was homeless. He said he would be delighted to have a photo taken of Bella.” Image: Patrizia RossiJohn Burton took this shot in Stoke Newington, Hackney. “These are my local deer in my park – Clissold Park. I like to feed them most days, so a delicious bit of apple enticed them to come over and say hello.” Image: John Burton
A jury from people in the homelessness sector and professional photographers also selects the 25 top photos out of the 2,000 snaps participants take with a shared prize pool of £2,000.
The annual project, which takes place in other cities across the globe through the MyWorld project, put the focus on the lesser-seen creative skills of people experiencing homelessness, who have a unique perspective on London.
Kevin Wood, who lives in a Single Homeless Project hostel in King’s Cross, captured a flag reading ‘punk’s not dead’ in Camden Town for his entry in the calendar.
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Kevin Wood said the sight of the flag unfurling was ‘fantastic’. Image: Kevin Wood
“Doing these photos is a big deal for me because the images [represent] where I am in my life right now,” he said. “I had substance abuse issues. I have been able to see the hostel for the opportunities that it actually gives to everyone who walks through the doors. But you’re unable to see this when you’re lost. I’m totally in control of my life and that’s what’s lovely – I wasn’t in a position before to do anything but I am now.”
Since 2015 volunteers from the London branch of The Royal Photographic Society have trained photographers with lived experience of homelessness.
Multiple art groups run by homelessness charities also participate in the project.
Barry Callaghan headed straight to Camden Market as soon as he picked up the
contest camera and captured this photo. Image: Barry Callaghan
Barry Callaghan had no experience in photography until he started taking photos on his phone while walking during lockdown.
He lives in a Single Homeless Project hostel after being evicted from his flat through a no-fault eviction just before Christmas last year.
One of the support workers at his hostel saw his photos and put him forward for the contest. When he got his camera, he headed straight to Camden Market and captured an alley of umbrellas which became the January entry to kick off the calendar.
“I was walking through the market. I looked up and saw that and I thought, ‘It’s perfect,’” said Callaghan.
Just over 200 K2 phone boxes remain on British streets so Zakia Chowdhury said she chose to photograph them because they are “an eminent symbol of London architecture.” Image: Zakia Chowdhury
Other photographers opted for a fresh spin on some of London’s most recognisable landmarks.
Zakia Chowdhury focused on a row of K2 telephone boxes in Broad Court, Covent Garden.
Chowdhury, who is a member of the 240 Project, an arts and health activity centre for people affected by homelessness and exclusion in West London, said she chose the phone boxes as they are “an eminent symbol of London architecture”.
Cal, who lives in a St Mungo’s hostel captured taxis at Covent Garden Market. He said: “I got kicked out by the mother of my child and since then I have sort of been homeless staying in different hostels, living on the street, the last two or three years.” Image: Cal AndersonA raven outside the Tower of London. Image: John Burton
Meanwhile, John Burton tapped into folklore with his shot of a raven near the Tower of London. As legend would have it, if ravens ever leave the Tower of London, the kingdom will fall.
Burton said: “One of them sat perfectly for a photogenic picture so I thought, ‘Why not capture him?’”
Café Art pays for the printing costs by pre-selling calendars and cards. It also is holding a crowdfunding campaign to raise £10,000 by 29 September to pay for the project. To support or buy a calendar, head to Café Art’s website.
If you can’t get to a Big Issue vendor every week, subscribing online is the best way to support vendors to earn a legitimate income and work their way out of poverty.
