*Hair Pull*, from the series *The Musics Sang ‘Lean On Me’,* 24”x24”, Inkjet print, 2021

Words and Images by Hannah Somers

Photo Edited by Kelly Woodyard

How did you develop this series?

The series came from an inclination to look back at my roots. When I got to art school I was focusing on concepts surrounding my own identity. I was asking questions and trying to find answers through my work. I soon realized that a lot of the questions I was asking were rooted in the experiences and upbringing of the people who raised me, my Mum and Aunt. It was the driving force behind approaching them to collaborate on this project with me. As two of the few Black members of my family, I figured we must share something significant. I wanted to understand why I was confused about my race and ethnicity. I came to realize that it was because they also faced confusion around their Blackness growing up that continued into adulthood. Together emphasizing fun, care and support, we began meeting to unravel their story and dissect their experiences growing up in a community that was almost all white. Creating the project began with me travelling on weekends back to London Ontario where I grew up. The three of us would sit in my Aunt’s home drinking wine, sharing our feelings about our Blackness and connecting ideas and stories. Eventually, before sunset (which was quite early because we began shooting in January 2020) we would begin shooting. The images started out pretty random but eventually a pattern formed and I began to capture a combination of staged and candid imagery that encapsulated their relationship and the shared moments working through the project.

What challenges came up during this project?

Oddly enough, seeing as my art practice is based in photography, it was the images that were the biggest challenge for me. I made this project for my second-semester thesis in my fourth year of University and all I remember is going to the profs and getting feedback that my images weren’t there yet. I was feeling pretty stumped. I knew I was doing a lot of playing and the images were reflecting that, but I also knew there was something not quite there. I might think now, that this was a reflection of my early experience shooting 120 film with a Hasselblad but I had also struggled with getting my imagery right in the past using digital photography. What I learned from my previous thesis was that video really helped me move things along. I am now very aware that creating a video element is an important part of my artistic practice. So, that’s what I turned to. It definitely worked, and with it came hours of documented stories that my Mum and Aunt shared with me. I had a new medium and new content to play with and I think that narrowed my focus. It gave me time to go through these stories and figure out the important themes (in this case the major influence of Black popular culture icons) This discovery is what pushed and strengthened my understanding of what the images needed to be. But also the pandemic, a project that was supposed to be very collaborative was halted by the fact that I couldn’t visit my Mum and Aunt anymore. Around March 2020, the series began to have gaps. This is something I’m okay with now because it is a reflection of life. The project's imagery now spans across the years where I was able to spend little moments shooting with my Mum and Aunt throughout the seasons. The project is always something that is going to be ongoing for me no matter what stage of life any of us are in. Our identities are not stagnant and every day we are influenced by new happenings that shape us.

*A Form of Dance*, from the series *The Musics Sang ‘Lean On Me*’, 24”x24”, Inkjet print, 2021

Describe your creative process in one word?

Synergetic

What inspires you to pursue image-making?

To ask questions, to find answers, to learn, to grow, and to understand.

What was the last book you read or film you saw that inspired you?

There isn’t a book or film that is truly inspiring me at this moment in my life. However, recently I watched the show Wu-Tang: An American Saga. The show follows the Wu-Tang Clan members from the streets through their rise to fame as prolific hip-hop musicians. The show may be about the music industry but I think the sentiment is synonymous with the visual arts. The show emphasizes the importance of togetherness. It reminded me that we don’t have to do everything alone. We can work together. We can bring others up with us. Success doesn’t have to be a solo endeavour and most of the time it isn’t. We shouldn’t be looking at others' talent as something to compete with but as something to embrace and support and acknowledge. There's room enough for all of us. If you're open to the creative skills of others it can not only help them but you as well. We all have something to learn from each other. The arts is a competitive field but I believe if you're humble it doesn’t have to be that way.

*Talking Toes #1*, from the series *The Musics Sang ‘Lean On Me’,* 24”x 24”, Inkjet print, 2021

What advice would you give to people just starting out in photography?

First and foremost make sure it's something you love and make sure to give yourself grace and freedom to explore the medium and what external resources have to offer to your practice. Look at what other people are doing. Get excited about the creativity of others and pull inspiration from any creative source that calls to you. Also, know your worth.

What is your favorite thing (podcast, album, audio book...etc.) to listen to?

I am always listening to music. Nine times out of ten if I’m out and about living my life I will be listening to music from the moment I start my day to the time I go to bed. At my heart, I think I’m an album girl because I love a narrative but, I do love a good playlist and they can have a narrative too. Making and listening to playlists is where I learn about new music. I’m lucky enough to have some seriously talented playlist queens in my life, my sister and my best friend. They have put me on so many great songs over the years just through listening to their playlists. However, recently I perfected my record player set-up in my home, so I’m fully into the vinyl game right now. One record that I’ve had on repeat is Hold Space For Me by Orion Sun. It's such a real album.