Confidence is something we don’t talk about enough in photography. We should, because it’s the foundation of good imagery. And I don’t mean the absence of discomfort, but rather not letting discomfort hold you back. Jess Meanwell, a young photographer from the UK, is the perfect example of this. Even in her teens, she put nerves aside and focused on getting the shot.
Street portraiture and candid photography are among the most nerve-racking genres in the medium. Inviting unknowing strangers to stand before your lens — unsure whether they’ll happily oblige or look at you like you’re out of your mind — can leave even experienced photographers on edge.
But at 17, Meanwell was already developing her project Portraits of Strangers, approaching people on the street and asking for their time and a pose.
Now 23, Meanwell is well into her photographic journey. Her portfolio continues to grow beautifully, and her curiosity about life and people makes me excited to see how her work evolves. Wanting to learn more, I invited Meanwell to take part in the site’s ongoing series, Them Future Frames.
Editor’s Note: Them Future Frames is about giving a platform to young photographers and curators between the ages of 18-23, encouraging them to speak about their work and to share what they hope to achieve in the industry.
Them Frames: Hey, Jess! So, what got you interested in the wonderful world of photography?
Jess Meanwell: When I was about 10 I was given a point and shoot digital camera, so that was the beginning. I then began upgrading my camera each birthday/christmas that came around until I had a DSLR. But, when I really fell in love with photography was when I was introduced to film photography during my A-level studies. It felt like a whole new world opened up and that’s when I became really passionate about photography.
Them Frames: A while ago, your bathroom was also your dark room – what was the process like developing at home and what did you enjoy about it?
Jess Meanwell: It was definitely a challenge and an adjustment, but I made it work and came to enjoy it. Our downstairs bathroom had no window in it so that became my darkroom. I stuffed lots of socks under the door to block out the light and stuck a piece of paper over the lightswitch outside the door warning people away.
The house was very full at that time and I was always paranoid that someone would flick the lightswitch without thinking and ruin my film, but that never happened thankfully. And after carefully mixing the chemicals and developing the film at the sink in the dark I would hang up the rolls of film in the shower. It was a cool process to develop my own photos at home, but I was very happy when I had access to my foundation course darkroom again and I didn’t have to worry about people turning the light on or where to safely dry my film.
Them Frames: Being young, you grew up in the digital era of photography. With that, what attracted you to analogue photography?
Jess Meanwell: It’s hard to put into words really. Film photos just feel special. The cameras are beautiful. The light is just different, I feel like the light in film photos almost has a glow to it. And the photos feel more nostalgic, even if they were taken last week. And I enjoy the slower process, the deliberation, not being able to see and assess the photos as I’m taking them makes me more present in the moment.
Them Frames: Portraits and candids seem to be your focus right now; what inspires you to focus your lens on this subject?
Jess Meanwell: I’ve always been curious about and interested in people. How different we are, how similar we are. I think people are fascinating and beautiful. So it was always going to be people for me.
Them Frames: You’d have been around 17-18 years old when you did your Portraits of Strangers series. Considering it takes a lot of confidence to approach strangers for street portraits – something people much older struggle with – where do you think this confidence came from, especially at the age you were?
Jess Meanwell: My sister came with me on most of the shoots so that was a massive support and she’d wait in the wings for me as I’d go up to approach people. I’m a pretty shy person by nature (and especially back then) and it was definitely nerve wracking, but the thrill I felt when people said yes and I got to take their photo made me feel so alive and made it a really rewarding project.
Them Frames: Is there a long term ambition with photography? What do you hope the future looks like in this regard?
Jess Meanwell: Yes, there’s not a specific ambition/goal exactly, but I just plan to follow my curiosities and create lots of in-depth projects that feel meaningful and personal to me. And to otherwise just stay open and see where life takes me.
Them Frames: Please finish this sentence: I need photography in my life because…
Jess Meanwell: It helps me to see the good in the world. To be more observant and appreciative and see the beauty everywhere.
You can see more work by Jess Meanwell by visiting her Instagram.
More reading: Them Future Frames: Carlos Salinas | csalfilm
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