In a time of enormous civil strife, Jonathan Hanson has chosen to delve into communities whose voice is not always heard. After the death of Freddie Gray, Jonathan covered the Baltimore riots that took place and later, he covered a series of block parties that sprang up as a way to find unity in the black community and provide a safe space for children. Huck Magazine editor Andrea Kurland was aware of the work Jonathan was doing. “I was impressed that he embedded himself in a community in an authentic way, and captured an optimistic story during a period of protest and social crisis,” said Andrea, so when she wanted to cover a story on Black Lives Matter activists heading to a conference in L.A., she knew Jonathan could accomplish the photographs with dignity and life.
Huck, a UK-based magazine, followed the story as Black Lives Matter activists in London crossed the ocean to connect with activists in the U.S. Boarding “The Caravan for Justice,” British activists traveled to California to attend a series of conferences to share stories, unite causes, and deepen resolve for one of the fastest-growing movements of our generation. Jonathan came in during the Los Angeles meet-up.
The event wasn’t ideal for photography, with venues full of harsh fluorescent lighting, and participants on a tight, busy schedule. “Jonathan still found a way to capture the small moments that matter most – the hugs, and winks, and subtle exchanges that turn a group of ‘subjects’ into a community of people,” says Andrea. Jonathan says his goal was to accurately tell the story of what took place, and do so in a creative way.
What excites me about a project like this is that it’s part of a large cultural happening that aims at improving the lives of others. I was able to produce work for a story that is viewed by Americans as mainly a U.S. issue and show that it’s happening in other parts of the world.
Jonathan arrived to the location before the group did so that he could scout the best place for portraits and get a sense of the overall lighting situation. He says that being prepared and knowing how he wanted to shoot everything before anyone arrived allowed him to make the most of what he had.
Jonathan’s images accompanied Huck Magazine’s article written by Michael Segalov, and his image of Stephanie Lightfoot-Bennet (shown above) landed in Huck’s “Best Portraits of 2015.” The images have also appeared across other blogs and social media.
To view more of Jonathan’s work, visit jhansonphoto.com.