An interview with Yasmin CarterAn interview with Yasmin Carter
Copyright- Megan Bendall RH: Who is Yasmin Carter? YC: Yasmin is a young social documentary photographer based in Manchester, UK. Her work primarily focuses on personal narratives and is currently focusing on her ongoing project Stay Strong Our Kid, which documents the survivors of the 2017 Manchester bomb attack so that the history and their stories are not forgotten. She plans to release the project as a book in the future.
Planning
Copyright- Yasmin Carter RH: What attracted and inspired you to your current documentary project?
YC: There were a few things that made me want to document these incredible people, it’s also a very personal topic for me as I am from Manchester and it is where I grew up. To put it in simply my home had been attacked along with some of my friends who attended the concert, and no one was telling their stories or showing the strength that they demonstrated each day since the attack. Their stories needed to be told and it is now a part of Manchester’s history it’s important that people do not forget.
RH: Can you talk us through the planning stage for your project?
YC: I spent a long time researching before beginning the project and putting things in place for my own mental health so that if I was affected by something, I was told in an interview I would have a support network to fall back on. I then spent a good three or four months building up relationships with each person that agreed to take part in Stay Strong Our Kidbecause before I could even think about taking a photo or talking to them about what they experienced, they had to trust me in order to divulge that kind of personal information. After we had established a good relationship, I spent two months photographing and interviewing each person.
RH: Is there anything you wish you had done differently?
YC: I wish I had spread the shoots over a longer period of time and had taken more breaks.
Implementation and Completion
Copyright- Yasmin Carter RH: How have you dealt with any challenges and difficulties within your project?
YC: It’s such as sensitive topic, approaching people on social media didn’t work out because people didn’t know me and felt uncomfortable sharing their story with a stranger, which is completely understandable. Almost everyone featured in the project was found through word of mouth. Personally, I received a lot of support from the network I began before the project and had continuous help throughout from my university lecturer Grant Scott.
RH: How long do your projects tend to take from start to finish?
YC: Every personal project I have created so far has taken a minimum of three years to complete, however I plan to finish this project in time for the fifth anniversary of the attack.
Editing and Sequencing
Copyright- Yasmin Carter RH: Do have several images to edit of one fleeting moment or do you have one well-constructed precise image that you have captured?
YC: For each portrait, I took into consideration the background and where the natural light was and used this information to photograph them where they felt the most comfortable. Alongside their portrait, I photographed their items of memorabilia from the night and included a scan of their written statement of their experience.
RH: Within the editing stages, have you felt the project has taken on a different narrative than first envisaged?
YC: Since the beginning of the project, the overarching narrative has not changed, however the unique accounts of the people involved have created their own individual narratives.
Tips and hints
Copyright- Yasmin Carter RH: What would you recommend for people starting their own photographic project?
YC: Fully understand what your narrative is and research the topic that you are choosing to photograph. Be empathetic towards the people you shoot and if you are tackling a difficult subject know that it’s ok to take a break and ask for a bit of help. And just get out there and shoot it.
RH: Does the camera really matter?
YC: The subject can dictate what camera you use. But often it doesn’t even matter, it’s all about how you see the world.
RH: Any books you would recommend reading to get the creativity started?
YC: For me, the Harry Potter series and The Lord of the Rings trilogy (and of course, The Hobbit) were staples of my childhood, and books that sparked my imagination. In terms of Photobooks, I would recommend Jim Mortram’sSmall Town Inertia and once it’s completed, Stay Strong Our Kid. But overall, my advice would be; read what your passionate about.
RH: Would you recommend attending photography workshops?
I personally, have never been to a workshop because I have been fortunate to be able to learn about photography during my college and university education. But, for those interested in studying it, I would definitely recommend the Editorial and Advertising Photography course at the University of Gloucestershire. RH: If you want to see more of Yasmins work vist
instergram https://www.instagram.com/y.a.carter/
website https://www.yasmincarter.com
Copyright- Yasmin Carter
Copyright- Yasmin Carter
If you have an instresting Street Project or Documentary project please leave a comment
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Comments
Karen O’Dowd(non-registered)
I have been lucky enough to see some of Yasmin’s work. She has an amazing talent and captures the essence of her subjects perfectly. Looking forward to seeing this finished work.
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