JODI ROGERS
JODI ROGERS
I love street photography and it’s one of the genres of photography I’ve really enjoyed discovering more of online, finding people based all over the world who are recording life on the streets in their own unique way. I personally feel it’s really important to keep street photography alive, along with people from the streets who are photographing their everyday life.
I talk a little about it in TRUTHS AND LIES See Publication CREATIVE REVIEW DOCUMENTING THE NOW by Mark Sinclair
CJ: One person to seek out is JODI ROGERS We had a chat!
CJ: Hi Jodie, how are you : ) When did you start making photos?
JR: I’ve always been interested in taking photos and remember really enjoying messing around with my mum’s point-and-shoot cameras when I was a kid. It wasn't until around 2015 whilst staying with a friend of mine in France that I started to think about photography in a different way and take it more seriously. My friend was a photographer and I remember her being really encouraging about me getting more into photography, she showed me some Magnum DVDs she had and something just seemed to click and I guess it all started from there really, so shout out to Charlotte.
CJ: Did you study or just decide to give it a go?
JR: Ha, that’s a funny one, I've never actually academically studied photography although I did get accepted onto a photography MA at UWE a few years ago but wasn't able to fund it, so unfortunately, couldn't accept my place on the course. If money wasn't an issue I would love the time and resources you get to access through studying photography at university. That said I feel like I did study photography in my own way through the physical act of just getting out there and doing it repeatedly and obsessively watching videos, looking at other people's photos, and asking other photographers I looked up to relentless questions.
CJ: Relentless is needed in our world! I think some of the conversations we have online with other creatives on social are a little like a peer group at college or university.
CJ: Same thing in a way with me Jodi, I was meant to study for a BA at NEWPORT but because of money worries and terror /confidence issues due to dyslexia, I didn’t stay on the course. I had previously studied HND Media Production, and a year working as a documentary photographer working for Plymouth Museum. I had an offer of some work in London so I weighed up the money side and decided to leave at the start, money was a big factor in this decision too. I agree with you, the physical act of just getting out there making work has been the best course for me too. I do still toy with the idea of studying and having that focused time to make work, but I have to keep working full-time.
CJ: How do you feel when out and about taking photos? I get a super focused fuzzy buzzy feeling when zoning into a still-life rubbish photo. Like I’m hyper-focused on the detail nothing else matters at that moment. What feeling do you get out and about photographing people, like a physical feeling?
JR: It kind of depends, to be honest, it’s a bit of a mixed bag of feelings and really varies depending on the interactions I have on the street. I think like a lot of people you have to get into the zone and really focus which is not always easy but when you do, it’s one of the best forms of escapism you can get, helping to push out the intrusive thoughts that go around in your head on a daily basis. I grew up skateboarding and can relate the same level of focus required to skate and learn tricks to shooting on the street and how it brings a certain level of peace at that moment, helping to shut out the everyday worries of life.
CJ: I find it’s the best form of escapism, in fact, the last 7 years of making ‘SOMEONE'S RUBBISH’ photos have helped me by giving me something to direct my energy into, in times of stress.
CJ: I can see the skateboarding influence as in the angles etc in your photos, the composition and movement.
CJ: Can you remember the first photos you have seen that you really loved and maybe inspire you in life or photos?
JR: I can't really remember a specific photo but I think I was heavily inspired by all the old skate photos in magazines as a kid and used to analyze them for ages scouring every little detail.
With regards to street photography, I obviously love photos by all the greats but was equally inspired by endless street photographers especially shooting flash whose work I would come across on Flickr and then Instagram, there are so many underrated yet mind-blowing photographers out there. One photo that always sticks in my mind though is the shot of the dog on the cover of Koudelka's Exiles book, too good!
CJ: I love the power and contrast in your photos and the use of flash, some people argue this type of work is too harsh to the person in the photo, I guess like the Bruce Gilden debate around permission and consent. But what I like about your work and others who work in this way is that life sometimes feels like this, well to me anyway, like when I’ve been on nights out or making my way through a city at night. The mixture of lights, the intensity of city life, the colors on faces and the hard street lights bring out the detail of people’s faces. Life is hard and intense at times.
JR: Ha, yeah thanks, I’m not the most confident of people when it comes to social interactions so it was funny that I was drawn towards street photography and initially really into using flash which is obviously pretty intrusive and can create all sorts of reactions from the subject from good to bad. One thing I never expected to get out of my photography was that it really helped my confidence in interacting and dealing with strangers. I know a lot of people have opinions on shooting flash or close-up candid street photos and potentially it’s too harsh but I always try to approach my work with empathy and never want to show anyone in a bad light or prey on the vulnerable. At the end of the day, people are always going to have an opinion and you have to stay in your own lane and work within your own morals, ha..if it’s good enough for Bruce then it’s good enough for me.
CJ: I noticed you don’t have a website, you mentioned juggling money life, and work. Has this got in the way of making a website? It did for me in the past. I think you should find something super simple/free/cheap and get the photos up big and singing so people can see what you do on a big screen. Just aim not to overcomplicate a website.
JR: I think since switching from shooting digital to film has slowed my whole process down and maybe if I had continued shooting digital I would have done a website by now. If I’m honest I always feel like I need to take better photos and so probably keep putting off showcasing them on a website until I have a load I’m really happy with. That said, you're right that money and life do play a part and I should have sorted out a website and thought something simple might allow me to get my head around it a bit more. I think that's really good advice and will endeavor to get one sorted soon, thanks, Chloe.
CJ: My really good friend Soley said to me years ago, “Just get the work you do on Tumblr. Don’t get too worried about how perfect it needs to be, just start it. Begin”. She was right, and it really helped me.
CJ: I’ve always enjoyed your photos and sharing them on Documenting Britain’s Instagram stories, so thank you for that! Do you still enjoy Instagram?
JR: To be honest obviously Instagram is great for looking at photography on a superficial basis but I would much rather go back to the days of Flickr which is a far better platform for viewing and interacting with photography and its communities. If it wasn't for my photography I would definitely think twice about having an Instagram account.
CJ: Are all the photos made in Bristol?
JR: A lot of my photos are shot in Bristol due to living here but there’s a lot from other places too, I’ve been going to London and other cities a lot more recently with my friend Jacob whose also a street photographer which helps to make the missions much more fun.
CJ: Funny question, are you he or she or they/them, I guess whilst I’ve been looking at your work I wondered re your name, and I am sometimes intrigued about how many men/women are out working the streets taking photos in the way you do, in the end, we are all people.
JR: Haha. I’m a he. Thanks for showing interest in my photos Chloe, much appreciated.
CJ: You were one of the people on my long list that I wanted to feature on Documenting Britain but didn’t get around to it, due to time and resources, so it’s great I can now : ) I am tackling the list now.
CJ: Do you have any memories from one of the photos? Like if you can remember something that springs to mind.
JR: Memories (eye patch lady shot) After taking the photo of the lady with the eyepatch and cigarette I noticed she was with what looked to be her son and he started walking towards me. I thought he was going to have a go at me about photographing his mum but instead said that she had just told him I had taken her photograph and it had made her day. He then asked if he could see the photo but I told him it was film and I couldn't show him but could send him the picture once I had paid to develop it etc. We briefly discussed the price of film etc and he said not to worry about sending it over as his mum was just happy to be photographed but as I was about to walk away he gave me a fiver and said put this towards the developing costs.
CJ: That’s lovely re the cash!
JR: Hope that's cool and not too much...let me know if you need anything else.🙏
CJ: No it’s great thank you, yes brilliant, it’s been great to chat and thank you again for allowing me to feature your work Jodi, keep doing what you do, get that simple webpage up and your photos out there for the world to see. CJ X : )
