In only three short weeks I have crossed from the at times questionable and confusing world of social documentary, into the more blurred world of the personal documentary.
Finding yourself as a supporting character in a story- with the remaining 20 roles filled by acquaintances and endearingly close friends- comes as an almost sucker-punch to the bearings. Raising a camera to someone’s face who already knows your life story is in ways more intimidating than photographing strangers- especially when a universal time of grief and confusion is being experienced on both sides of the lens.
While this is in no way Larry Clark’s ‘Tulsa’, I still am pulled in two different directions- constantly finding myself as a participant in key parts of the story, comforting and caring for those closest to me in moments when an image or audio of the action could make the story.
Building a supportive distance is a necessary tool which grows every hour here in Manchester.
