Cafe Art, a UK-based social initiative that allows the homeless to express themselves through art and photography, gave 100 Fujifilm disposable cameras to the homeless in London. They were then offered some basic training by the Royal Photographic Society, and told to bring back photos of "their London"- how they saw the city they live in.
The results were stunning. Thousands of beautiful photos were developed, and a panel of judges from Fujifilm, Amateur Photographer, the London Photo Festival, Christie’s, and Homeless Link chose the best ones. There is even a Kickstarter project that's raising money to print some of the winning shots for a 2016 calendar.
The contest was run by the social enterprise Café Art with the support of the Royal Photographic Society and volunteers.
Above: Faceless Child, East London by Ellen Rostant.
Above: Faceless Child, East London by Ellen Rostant.
Above: Picnic in the Park, Southeast London.
"The goals are to provide people affected by homelessness an outlet to express their talent and creativity. We will have an exhibition and are also putting some of the photographs into the annual calendar which will be sold by people affected by homelessness. The calendar part of the project will help people earn an income and work for themselves and also raise money for art projects," Paul Ryan, Director of Café Art, said.
Above: Ducks, Hyde Park.
Above: Ducks, Hyde Park.
After six years in the army David Tovey opened his own restaurant in London. But in 2011, following health issues he lost his business and became homeless.
David had two photos in last year's calendar, including the cover shot. "I’ve gained a lot from this project. A year ago I almost didn't make the camera handout: this year I gave a presentation to the people picking up cameras!"
Above: Bags for Life, Strand, by David Tovey.
David had two photos in last year's calendar, including the cover shot. "I’ve gained a lot from this project. A year ago I almost didn't make the camera handout: this year I gave a presentation to the people picking up cameras!"
Above: Bags for Life, Strand, by David Tovey.
Ellen Rostant took this shot in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. "It’s like you are in a tunnel when you are homeless: it’s a journey and there’s always going to be light at the end of the tunnel. There is some dark and light patches in between on the journey."
Above: Light at the End, Stratford, by Ellen Rostant.
Above: Light at the End, Stratford, by Ellen Rostant.
"I've had a passion for and interest in photography since my teens, but consider myself a novice and would like to go on a course to learn the ropes," XO, the author of the shot, said.
Above: London Calling, Lincoln’s Inn, by XO.
Above: London Calling, Lincoln’s Inn, by XO.
Arriving in London four years ago, Goska Calik found herself homeless when she lost her job due to illness. Now she has a place to live and is studying and working.
"I started taking photos when I was five years old. The first photography I did was with my father. It was with a Zorky 12, a Russian camera. He taught me about light and the zoom and everything. I loved it. So then I bought my first camera and I started to take photos," she said.
Above: Color Festival, Olympic Park, by Goska Calik.
"I started taking photos when I was five years old. The first photography I did was with my father. It was with a Zorky 12, a Russian camera. He taught me about light and the zoom and everything. I loved it. So then I bought my first camera and I started to take photos," she said.
Above: Color Festival, Olympic Park, by Goska Calik.
From the 80 cameras returned, over 2,500 photos were developed, and 20 of them were chosen by the selections panel of the contest.
Above: Parked Bike, Hyde Park.
Above: Parked Bike, Hyde Park.
Above: Left Boot, by Ellen Rostant.
Photographs from the contests will go public during a week-long exhibition at Spitalfields Market in October.
Above: Shadow of Myself, Hyde Park, by Gosca Calik.
Above: Shadow of Myself, Hyde Park, by Gosca Calik.
Above: Sleeping Rough, West End.
The project is a social enterprise and is self-funding from calendar sales only.
Above: Picnic, Hyde Park.
Above: Picnic, Hyde Park.
Zilvinas Vaiteikunas decided to take this shot at bird’s eye height while exploring streets near Mayfair where he worked on a project with the Kids Company.
"The challenge I had to overcome was to discover a direction in my life that would keep me happy and fulfill me as a human being. And so far I discovered that it is creativity," he said.
Above: West End Bird, Westminster, by Zilvinas Vaiteikunas.
"The challenge I had to overcome was to discover a direction in my life that would keep me happy and fulfill me as a human being. And so far I discovered that it is creativity," he said.
Above: West End Bird, Westminster, by Zilvinas Vaiteikunas.
Michael Crosswaite was on his way to return the camera when he took this shot of Aaron Little in the art room of Providence Row, Whitechapel. "I didn’t over-think the photo and perhaps that’s why it worked. The painting is so good it makes the picture."
Above: The Artist, Whitechapel, by Michael Crosswaite.
Above: The Artist, Whitechapel, by Michael Crosswaite.
"I liked the sky, it was amazing that day," said Ioanna Zagkana about her photo of 30 St Mary Axe, known as The Gherkin, and St Andrew Undershaft.
Above: Past and Future, by Ioanna Zagkana.
Above: Past and Future, by Ioanna Zagkana.
Ceci said that art helps her find her "inner connection" and gives her strength to fight self-destructive behavior. She has studied media and culture, photography and artistic design in the past and is currently creating a blog about random act of kindness.
Above: Tower Bridge Picnic, by Ceci.
Above: Tower Bridge Picnic, by Ceci.
The thirteen works chosen by public vote will be included in a 2016 My London calendar.
Above: Yellow and Red.
Above: Yellow and Red.
Desmond said: "Sometimes people at the center are thrown out of their housing if they can’t look after it and they put them in a hostel. They get a place later." He added he has seen the number of people sleeping rough rise in recent years.
Above: Tyre Break, Hackney, by Desmond.
Above: Tyre Break, Hackney, by Desmond.
Formerly a chef, ROL is an active volunteer with many charities, including Café Art, and several of his paintings are featured in cafes around London.
Above: Cover 2016 My London Calendar – Mr. Bond, Greenwich, by ROL.
Above: Cover 2016 My London Calendar – Mr. Bond, Greenwich, by ROL.
Maciek Walorski took this photo in Kensington Gardens, saying the geese were not afraid because they were probably expecting food.
Maciek, who comes from Poland, has lived in London for twelve years. He became homeless about a year ago and is currently sleeping rough.
Above: Royal Geese Sunset, Kensington Park, by Maciek Walorski.
Maciek, who comes from Poland, has lived in London for twelve years. He became homeless about a year ago and is currently sleeping rough.
Above: Royal Geese Sunset, Kensington Park, by Maciek Walorski.
