PRO COLUMN
“I am often judged based on prejudices and ultimately the colour of my skin”
Ron Timehin shares a powerful image and message from Black Lives Matter protests
Like most freelance photographers, we navigate an incredibly precarious road, which has its many challenges: continually breaking creative blocks, dealing with difficult clients, or even the dreaded task of chasing late payments.
Being a young, Black British photographer poses its own additional difficulties that can make doing what you love all that much tougher. I would say I have had a good upbringing. Both my parents are welleducated doctors and always made sure that they pushed me to be the best human I can be and to be kind to others, whether that be in the creative arts or life in general. Those who know me personally know that I am polite, driven, and do my utmost to help others be happy. However, as I have grown up, I have learned that not everyone sees that, and I am often judged based on prejudices and ultimately the colour of my skin.
A large part of the photography that I create involves finding unique locations, travel, and meeting lots of people from varying backgrounds. While doing this, I have often been met with hostility and ignorance, with racism continually showing its ugly head. Subtle racism happens almost daily. I have had occasions where I have been stereotyped and refused entry onto public rooftops for absurd reasons. As most people know, racism can also be more direct and brutal. During a commercial shoot for a tourism board a few years back, I was unfortunately subjected to physical abuse where I was attacked.
As much as I would like to say these are rare occurrences, it’s something I, like many, suffer from often, and it cuts very deep. It makes me feel like less of a human when
I’m simply trying do what I love, creating art and documenting moments in time. These experiences aren’t just stories, they stay with you for the rest of your life and can have a long-lasting effect on your mental health.
I recently documented the Black Lives
Matter protests in London, and the images resonated not only because of the outrage and pain that’s been happening over hundreds of years, but because they were happening during a pandemic. The images of thousands of people from all races chanting for change, while covered with PPE, not only show a yearning for unity, but in my eyes a form of bravery. People are willing to risk their lives for progression and equality for future generations.