questionphotoproject - A Series of Questions

SEEKING PARTICIPANTS

“A Series of Questions” is a photo project exploring the power dynamics inherent in the questions asked of transgender, transsexual, genderqueer, gender-variant, and/or gender non-conforming people. Participants are photographed holding a sign upon which is written a question they have been asked. The questions are then turned on the viewer, shifting the dynamics under which they were originally asked, forming a larger series of questions which many of the people photographed face as a part of their daily lives.

Many documentary photographic works dealing with trans* issues and gender exploit the genders of these subjects, pointing to an “otherness” or inappropriately exoticizing; this body of work seeks to instead point to the transphobia, genderphobia, and gender-baiting that can become part of everyday interactions and lives, forming a more full picture of the various lived experiences.

Sample image:

WATCH THIS SPACE FOR LOCATION UPDATES:

~~Dec. 25 – Jan. 11: Westchester County, NY~~

~~Feb. 22-24: Urbana, IL (at MBLGTACC)~~

~~July 5-8: Westchester County, NY~~

July 8 - Aug. 19: South Weymouth, MA

Aug. 19 - Aug. 24: Westchester County, NY

All other dates: St. Louis, MO

I am willing to travel. Email me if you are within a 3 to 4 hour distance from these areas. When in doubt about distance, email anyways to check.

If you are interested but live in an area to which I currently have no travel plans, contact me regardless. I will make sure to get in touch with you when and if I am in your area.

Would you like to participate in this project? Please read on.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are you?

I am a 23 year old photographer and student; I am also transgender, on the FTM-spectrum, and use he/his pronouns.

What is this exactly?

I am photographing people who have been on the receiving end of transphobic, genderphobic, and gender-baiting questions. Participants are photographed holding a wooden sign (provided by me) of a question they've personally been asked.

Why are you doing this?

I've been trying to think of a way to photographically address transphobic questions, and this seemed like a good visual solution. I've had to deal with a lot of invasive, inappropriate questions myself. This is a way, I think, to turn those questions back on their heads.

How long will you be doing this project?

I plan on pursuing this body of work, at minimum, over the next 5 to 10 years.

Who can participate?

Anyone can participate who self-identifies or would self-define themself as transgender, transsexual, genderqueer, gender non-conforming and/or gender variant or is regularly perceived as such (ex. a feminine man, an androgynous person). You can be pre-op, post-op, non-op, hormones/no hormones, out, closeted, stealth, etc. Basically, I am interested in photographing people who have been/are on the receiving end of transphobic/gender-baiting questions in a way that places them at a power imbalance. If you want to participate, send me an email: questionphotoproject@gmail.com(Minors can participate but a legal guardian must sign the photo release form.)

I’m not sure I’m _____ enough for this project. Can you tell me if I fit in with this project?

I am not interested in policing anyone’s identities or experiences. You are the best judge as to whether or not you fit the parameters of this project.

What will this be used for?

I will use the images towards an artistic body of work that may be exhibited, published, and/or used in presentations. Images may appear on my photography website in the future. All participants will have to sign a photo release form, to be emailed once you contact me.

What will I get in return?

Within a year of the time I photograph you, I will send you an emailed JPEG version of the image, and/or (your preference) one high-quality silver gelatin print, mailed to your address.

I'd like to participate, but I'm nervous about my name or other identifying information being used. How can you protect my identity?

Names/initials and other identifying information will not be used in association with the images, *unless given express permission* by the participant on the photo release form. Faces will be shown in the images, and if you have concerns about that, you may not want to participate.

A question I have been asked has already been used. Can questions be repeated?

Yes, questions can be repeated. It does not matter how many times a question is used.

I'd like to participate, what next?

Send me an email at questionphotoproject@gmail.com with the subject line “photo project.” You can email me a little bit about yourself if you like. Come up with a list of some of the questions you've been asked that you feel were transphobic, genderphobic, or gender-baiting. Provide context for the questions, if you like-- it's up to you how much you want to share. We'll email back and forth, and based off of other people I've photographed and what sorts of questions they've been asked, we'll decide which one to use for you.

Where do we meet, where can I be photographed, and when?

As this is highly individual, we'll talk in email. But, I'd prefer to meet in a public place and just go from there. If you're nervous about meeting someone “from the internet” bring a friend (I will most likely do this myself). Again, we'll discuss it in email. My schedule is generally flexible, so we can work something out. I prefer to photograph in the morning or early afternoon.

What should I wear?

Whatever you like. I only ask that you refrain from wearing items with excessive logos or text (hats with text are fine though not preferred; t-shirts with text not so much), as that will distract from the text on the sign.

What will you use to photograph?

I don't have any fancy lighting equipment, so just daylight and a medium format camera (Hasselblad 501cw). I will be photographing using black and white film, and may also use a digital camera to do some quick tests for the light.

Where can I view more photographs?

I am in the process of creating a more full webpage to showcase the photographs from this and other projects. When the website is up, I will provide a link to it from this page. Until then, a sample image can be viewed here. Other sample images may also appear when I advertise for participants.

Question not answered? Want to participate?

Email questionphotoproject@gmail.com