Pensioners
Pensioners is a socially focused photographic study whichcaptures a diverse life of pensioners in their own houses.
There are pictures of various old grandmothers andgrandfathers but there are also a little bit younger faces but all of them areretired and enjoy their retirement.
I informed the pensioners in advance and we agreed on adate. Then I visited a few dozens of various households with one or two retirees.I photographed them in a room in which they spend most of their time, mostly itwas their livingroom or a kitchen. It should have been a room which reflectsthe type of personality of its owner by its appearance and equipment. Thepensioners were informed in advance and they had the opportunity to preparethemselves for it. I did not interfere in the preparation, I did not want totell them what to wear and how to prepare the room because I wanted them tobehave and react naturally. Some pensioners often wore dresses for specialoccasions, the ladies often went to a hairdresser‘ and did their make-up.Sometimes they had a dress but kept their slippers. Others, knowing they are attheir own home, did not wear anything special because they did not see anyreason in changing the home clothes.
I took the photographs by the wide-angle lens in order toput the emphasis on the space and the photograps are adjusted to thepanoramatic format. There is also a video in which the pensioners talk abouttheir experiences and life stories. Video put the emphasis on spoken word tobring the atmosphere of the project. You will find out also other old people‘sproblems than just those which can be seen on the pictures.
My aim was to capture all available information about theretirees‘ lives. I was interested not only in their apartments, clothes, freetime and things they like doing but also in the interesting things about theirhomes – how long they have been living there, what kind of relationship to theapartment they have and what they keep in stock. I wanted the observer to be inthe same mood and to inspire him to find details, various differences betweenthe households and hidden secrects on the photographs.
There are pictures of various old grandmothers andgrandfathers but there are also a little bit younger faces but all of them areretired and enjoy their retirement.
I informed the pensioners in advance and we agreed on adate. Then I visited a few dozens of various households with one or two retirees.I photographed them in a room in which they spend most of their time, mostly itwas their livingroom or a kitchen. It should have been a room which reflectsthe type of personality of its owner by its appearance and equipment. Thepensioners were informed in advance and they had the opportunity to preparethemselves for it. I did not interfere in the preparation, I did not want totell them what to wear and how to prepare the room because I wanted them tobehave and react naturally. Some pensioners often wore dresses for specialoccasions, the ladies often went to a hairdresser‘ and did their make-up.Sometimes they had a dress but kept their slippers. Others, knowing they are attheir own home, did not wear anything special because they did not see anyreason in changing the home clothes.
I took the photographs by the wide-angle lens in order toput the emphasis on the space and the photograps are adjusted to thepanoramatic format. There is also a video in which the pensioners talk abouttheir experiences and life stories. Video put the emphasis on spoken word tobring the atmosphere of the project. You will find out also other old people‘sproblems than just those which can be seen on the pictures.
My aim was to capture all available information about theretirees‘ lives. I was interested not only in their apartments, clothes, freetime and things they like doing but also in the interesting things about theirhomes – how long they have been living there, what kind of relationship to theapartment they have and what they keep in stock. I wanted the observer to be inthe same mood and to inspire him to find details, various differences betweenthe households and hidden secrects on the photographs.
