Photographer shares vision with Orlando
“To me, a successful photograph is one that captures the human spirit and/or provokes thought and motivates,” said Jamel Shabazz. The Brooklyn-based photographer has been shooting the streets of New York and the world since the late 1970s. His lens is responsible for capturing many of the earliest images of hip-hop culture.
On Friday, Shabazz will be in Central Florida for the opening of a shared exhibit with Philadelphia shutterbug Shawn Theodore at photography gallery Snap! Orlando (7 p.m., 1013 E. Colonial Drive, free, exhibition runs through May 12, snaporlando.com).
In an email interview, Shabazz, 57, spoke with the Orlando Sentinel about the motivations behind his images and the cultures he has captured. Questions and answers have been edited for length and clarity.
Question: Why do you focus on people?
Answer: Because everyone has a unique backstory that I always find rather intriguing. For me, the crossing of paths with certain individuals in a space and time … is meant to be.
Q: What qualities do you seek to portray about people that might not be apparent?
A: I do make an assertive effort to portray my subjects with dignity because in some cases they may not be openly aware of the great qualities they possess. Merely smiling, where I come from, can be viewed as a sign of weakness, so I seek to relax my subjects and capture them in a way that is unique and honorable, and at the same time, reflects strength and confidence.
Q: What draws your eye?
A: Anything that is insightful and provokes thought. One of the themes I tend to focus on in many situations is that of love and friendship. I feel images of that nature really reflect what I seek to not only record but share with the larger world. For balance, I am also drawn to injustice on all levels and a host of political and social conditions such as antiwar protests, poverty and police brutality.
Q: How does being on film change people?
A: In my opinion, there is a degree of one feeling validated and visible. As [a] photographer, I want to create images that show my subjects in ways that illuminate dignity, even if it is just a basic snapshot. One of the things that gives me so much joy is seeing how countless people over the years have taken my images and used them as their profile pictures.
Q: What do you want people to get out of your work?
A: If my work can inspire love, then I have done my job. Just as important is knowing that my work has inspired someone to embrace photographic practices, from image making to simply loving photographs.
Q: Please feel free to share any thoughts.
A: As a people we have the ability to make this world a better place. Let us strive to come together as [a] global force using our gifts to inspire love, peace and understanding; for there is no better time than now.