Since Brexit, British farms have been suffering a labour shortage. New restrictions on Europeans have greatly reduced the usual seasonal workforce coming from Romania and Bulgaria. A special work visa was granted to Ukrainians in an attempt to alleviate the farms, however the less experienced labourers mean lower efficiency, therefore higher food prices for the consumer.
By Jack Lewis jacklewis.uk
I invited people to take part in my portrait project, first of all I asked them to think about how they would like to be represented and write these ideas on a sheet of paper. Then they would set the camera up on the tripod where they wanted to make their portrait. I encouraged them to think about the perspective of the camera. With the cable release they then photograph themselves. I then brought all the photographs they made as prints and let them select the image they wanted to use for the project. They would then write down their thoughts about this image on a second sheet of paper.
When ask to describe the project, Katezyna, one of the participants, wrote: “This project will help to show people from other countries who come to England to work on a farm. We all have our stories. Here we can think and see if the way we perceive ourselves is in line with the way others see us.”
Step 1. You have to write how you want to look in the photo, how you want people to see you.
Step 2. In the next stage, you’re a director and a photographer. You have to choose your own image, place, positions, [set up] the camera and take a photo.
Step 3. From the photos you [have made], choose the one that best fits the description you wrote earlier.
Step 4. Describe your feelings, your impressions when you look at this picture. As far as the [first] description corresponds to what you see in the image. Indicate your comments, wishes.’
Alina
I think everything is ok [in] this photo. We should take away [the] beer [in] the photo. This is the biggest apple I have seen in my life. Yes, of course I came to [the] UK to earn some money but the most important thing for me is to understand myself outside and inside.
P.S. Everything will be as it was [planned]…
Anastasiia
I like this photo because I look honest. I don’t like this photo because I don’t like my hair.
Cristina
I like how the picture [came] out. [It] represents the real me, with my qualities and imperfections, but always with a smile!
David Pi
Tired and disenchanted
Fatima
I don’t like this picture because my body is cut off.
Gogu
I don’t like it because it looks like I don’t have a sock and it shows the shutter [release] cable.
Katezyna
I look young in the photo, but it is clear that the person is not empty, but energetic filled with certain experience. There is a wise approach and a desire to develop and work on myself. I don’t like the fact that there is a bed, a door, a table etc. If this photo has a different background it will look more harmonious.
Lolo
Picture is ok, bad camera man
Mladen
It’s just that when you take a photo everything is so real and it presupposes you.
Natalia
I like this photo because I look like I wanted. I don’t like [this] photo because I do not like this place and [these] clothes.
Nataliia
In the photo I look happy but tired
Nikolai
I like [the] quality of this photo, but I don’t convey much other emotions than I wanted. In this photo I feel very serious, a little bit sad and dangerous!!!
Olga
In my opinion, [the portrait] didn’t really work out; [the] posture’s too stiff. I like the colours, the sky, angle of the ceiling. Don’t like the look of the face – too tense
Petar
Very good actor
Pitar
Spiderman
Roxana Margarita
I like my hair over one side and I like the background
Sali
I like the picture
Shefi
I like it, I look really pretty but my face all the time looks like I’m sad even if I am not. I’m impressed by my picture.
Ventsislav
Unique
Volodymyr
I preferred another photo with [a] smile on my face, but [you chose] this one. What can I say about this photo? I like it, it’s ok.