Bench on Thames Street
- Bench on Thames StreetA photographic series on the people of Newport, Rhode Island
- During my first year as a photo student, I quickly realized that I was drawn to photographs of people. I became interested in photography that documented the nature of our human condition and the daily aspects of our lives. As a student attending school in the famous city of Newport, Rhode Island, I was already aware of the stereotypes and assumptions made about the people who live here and the tourists that visit. As many people know, Newport is not a typical city, as it is home to many of the most immense and lavish mansions in the United States. In addition, the beautiful beaches, shops, restaurants, and bars, make for a popular vacation spot that attracts people from all over the world. I decided to take advantage of this environment and my interest in the human condition to develop a photographic series that would not only document the people of Newport, but would also make statements about their personalities, relationships, and lives. I stationed myself at a bench on the popular and busy Thames Street, where many of the shops and restaurants are located. I did not begin this project with a set idea or plan, so I simply began asking people that were walking by to sit on the bench and pose for a few pictures. After a couple of weeks, my idea became more concrete and I started asking people to do both a posed picture, in which most people stared or smiled at the camera, and a natural picture, which required the people to interact with one another or pretend that a picture wasn't being taken. By giving my subjects very little instruction, the product of these photographs was determined solely by the individuals themselves. I found it interesting to witness how people reacted in front of the camera and I was pleased to find a unique response in every picture I took. This series took place in the months from February to April of 2010, and in this time, I was able to meet many people and photograph their friends, their families, and their individual quirks to tell a story that is their story. So what is really the truth about Newport? Who exactly lives here and what types of people visit? These photographs are a documentation of my experience, in which I hope to provide a visual glimpse of the variety of people that make up the city of Newport.
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