Mary Humphrey
I am a photographer who embraces challenges. For the past two years I have been involved with photographing Roma, Gypsies and Travellers.
My aim as a photographer was and still is to invite the viewer to look and look again. Initially my intent was to discover and relate information about these marginalised communities. I wanted their photographs to tell their stories. I am a collaborative photographer who relishes working with people, where relationships are established and maintained. Working amongst the different groups I became involved with the broader issues that surround them. My continued intent is to present information within the frames, but also to instigate questions that arise about their past, their present way of life, and their impact on today’s society and their future. Much suspicion and folk lore continue to surround these groups; what is the reality?
I want their portraitures to capture the essence of their identity, namely their inherent resilience, dignity and pride. I want their confident, strong personalities to be exposed by their uninhibited gazes when faced with a camera.
This challenging process has made an impact on my development as a photographer. I want my photography to make a difference.
Mary Humphrey
maryfranceshumphrey@gmail.com
Tags: Mary Humphrey
This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 18th, 2011 at 11:31 am and is filed under Photography. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
May 20th, 2011 at 2:51 pm
Mary I think your work is amazing. I really do look and look again and question my own preconceptions about travellers. I love the scale you work at and the depth of colour you are able to pour into your images. Well done, you deserve every success.
May 22nd, 2011 at 3:05 pm
I’m particularly drawn to the face behind the green door. Such a symbol of how we try to hide that which makes us uncomfortable. If we can’t see it, it doesn’t exit and we don’t have to understand or interact. Thank you for your efforts to open the door. They are truly amazing portraits.
May 23rd, 2011 at 9:31 am
Hi Mary, I think these photos are great. You’ve done really well to strike the right balance with these pictures. I’ve spent some time with our Romany cousins in Transylvania too. Most photographers focus entirely on the poverty and the misery and forget the pride and incredible resilience of all Romany people. With these you’ve people at the heart of their own story. Very well done.
Jake Bowers, Romany Journalist
http://www.travellerstimes.org.uk
May 23rd, 2011 at 1:37 pm
Thank you Elizabeth for your very generous comments. I am so delighted that you can perceive the whole essence of my work with the Roma communities, it seems to validate my intentions. Thank you!
May 23rd, 2011 at 1:42 pm
Thank you Debbie for your insightful comments.I have called this particular image ‘Through the cracks’ as it seems to symbolise some of the many issues surrounding the Roma in these particualar communities.
May 23rd, 2011 at 9:42 pm
I love you work Mary, they are simply a journey into an unfamiliar way of life, a way of life that the modern world seems to be leaving behind. Each picture tells a story they are all very evocotive. All the best. X
May 24th, 2011 at 6:04 am
Thank you Jake for your kind comment. I just feel very privileged to have been able to work with the various Roma, Gypsy and Traveller communities. I just want my photography to continue making a difference.
May 24th, 2011 at 6:10 am
Mandy,as always generous with your perceptive comments….thank you!
May 26th, 2011 at 6:18 pm
Mary! Well, what can I say… What a truly beautiful series! Not only have you worked so hard, you have produced an intimate documentary which portrays these peoples lives to us in a tasteful manner and one that we can all enjoy and be touched by their way of life. Well done!
May 27th, 2011 at 5:12 am
I am delighted that you have enjoyed viewing these photographraphs Mark. Thank your wonderful comments.
May 27th, 2011 at 8:17 am
Dear Mary,
The aspect of your comments that I can particularly relate to after viewing these is where you state your intention to “instigate questions that arise about their past, their present way of life, and their impact on today’s society and their future.”
Without having read the comments first I would have come to the same conclusion myself. Thanks for sharing this with me.
Graham
May 31st, 2011 at 8:23 am
Mary these are wonderfully evocative images which move beyond the stereotypical views of downtrodden Roma people – and show the reality of their lives -albeit in somewhat bleak material circumstances – whilst not imposing any single opinion about the people themselves on the viewer. Well done and many thanks for sharing these wonderful photographs
June 2nd, 2011 at 6:46 am
Graham thank you for your comments. I am delighted that these images instigated questions about issues surrounding the Roma.
June 2nd, 2011 at 6:52 am
Margaret thank you for your understanding comments. I certainly hope that this body of work will relate the unique story and circunstances of the Roma today.
June 3rd, 2011 at 8:35 pm
Beautiful balance of colour and texture, Mary. The photos have a painting-like quality to them. Are the people you have portrayed, “in their life” or “outside of it”? Your photos hold the moment, very quietly and strongly. Mary, you really have an incredible eye as well as a feel for your subjects, who in turn WANT to be seen by you!
June 8th, 2011 at 5:37 pm
Sumita, thank you for your discerning question and kind comments.
June 23rd, 2011 at 9:13 am
Truely amazing Mrs H. Incredible work.
July 3rd, 2011 at 8:20 am
Thank you Josh!
March 28th, 2012 at 9:20 pm
hi Mary
Earthy stuff, gets to the heart, loved image 7 the gipsy girl and image 3 horse and cart utterly brilliant, well done, behind the lens the girls got class !!!!
April 20th, 2012 at 9:41 pm
Thank you for your kind comments Tony. You have mentioned two of my favourite images.