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Christoffer Åhlén
Travel + Documentary
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Winner of Portrait of Britain 2023!
Organised by British Journal of Photography, Portrait of Britain is the UK’s biggest annual photo exhibition
celebrating the many faces of modern Britain - shown on thousands of digital screens all across the UK. It’s also in print, a book published by Hoxton Mini Press.
I captured this young man in Stamford Hill, London, during Purim - a Jewish celebration which could be described as a massive street party. The community is famously very private, so naturally my adrenaline levels were through the roof as I didn’t want to upset anyone. I expected the worst but it turned out that when you step outside your comfort zone you create your very best work.
Back in December, when receiving the news of being one of the winners, I realised I had to try and find the boy’s parents to get approval of having the photograph published. Once again terrified, I went back to Stamford Hill to see if we could find them. Third person we asked, just outside one of the synagogue’s, laughed and said he knew the boy’s father. He took out his burner phone, called the dad and one minute later I was talking to him explaining the project. Best part? Him saying: “if I can help another human, I’d be very happy to”.
Photograph feautured in The Guardian and other publications.