Daniel Keys

Concurrence | Concurrence is an ongoing series of portraits of the people around me. I decided to take portraits of my friends and family as a way of pinning down each person at that time in our lives, offering a view of that person and their circumstances. Living in London I have always found the cities multiculturalism reflected in my many connections with people from not only different countries but also varied economic backgrounds.

I was originally prompted by the UK’s controversial decision to leave the European Union, a selfish fear that the group of contacts I had surrounded myself with may be forced to leave. Many of those people had a sense of disappointment with the country they had decided to call home, even prompting some to leave of their own volition.

Each image is the outcome of a private interview/conversation between the sitter and myself and is a personal rumination of the coincidental nature of friendships and acknowledgment that the circumstances that bind people together are in a constant state of flux.

When photographing the portraits, I have endeavored to remove the presence of the camera as much as possible. I attained this by lining up the shot and focusing beforehand, using a cable release, and only occasionally checking the camera. Being able to engage my sitter in real conversation and pressing the shutter instinctually as and when it felt right to do so.

I decided to use the sitter’s bedrooms to frame the images as it facilitates the visual narrative, giving context to the sitter’s circumstances, fleshing out the subject to the audience whilst also providing a space for me to conduct the interviews. A safe space where the subjects feel comfortable, an intimate space. The interviews are not structured in a conventional sense and can flow, taking the route they wish, allowing the sitter to control the dialogue somewhat. Topics have ranged from childhood, relationships, hopes, fears, aspirations, and regrets. www.daniel-keys.co.uk