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Christer Björkman

PROUD PEOPLE

In this project I ask strangers that I meet to think about something they are proud of. They do that with their eyes closed to focus better. When they open their eyes, I press the shutter. 



After that I ask if they would like to share what they were thinking. Most people tell me what they were thinking and not seldom the stories become long and interesting.  The project gives me hope in more than one way. The first is the fact that so many people decide to stand with their eyes closed in front of a total stranger, like me, sometimes for a very long time. It shows that they trust me. The second are the things people bring up as being proud of. It is personal but universal at the same time. And can be things like ‘I am proud that I divorced; … that I go to the city jail talking to young inmates; … that I am a kind person; … of my heritage; … nothing special’.

"I photograph many things but tend to gravitate towards ‘the ordinary’. The world, even my closest neighborhood, is full of interesting ‘objects’ to photograph."

photo by  Kitty de Jong

Proud People

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