#documentary photography

dynamicafrica:

Photo by Nema Etebar

It’s been a few months since I first excitedly interviewed documentary photographer Brittani Sensabaugh. A proud East Oakland native, currently based in New York, armed with even more pride rooted in her blackness, Sensabaugh’s craft has seen her cast her lens on many faces, moments, scenes and livelihoods of people residing in places such as Chicago, Houston, Watts LA, Baltimore, Brownsville and Philly, as part of her self-created *222*Movement.

Producing striking and evocative photographs that range from close ups of people of all ages encountered on the street, to images that show the art and intricacies of black hair, Sensabaugh describes her overlapping series as her own personal mission of reminding people of the “power, beauty, strength, but most importantly the love in the pain we may often feel daily.” Tasking herself with photographing those who seem to be all but forgotten in the narrative of the American Dream, Sensabaugh’s mission is simple and clear: “It’s to show you that no matter how much we go through, we still shine & will always shine in all that we do because melanin is real power.”

Motivated by statements like this, and the fact that black women (documentary) photographers seem to either be unacknowledged or omitted in mainstream discussions on photography (I have trouble naming more than a few, and refuse to believe more do not exist), reaching out to Sensabaugh was more than a necessity for me. Both the importance of Sensabaugh and her work cannot be stressed enough. Every single photograph she shares possesses an unfiltered realness and striking intimacy that speaks to the special relationship between a photographer and their subject, one that may otherwise be seen as questionable and problematic if certain factors were different. It is these qualities, coupled with her genuine approach, strong sense of self and her undiluted dedication, that make her visual narratives an integral part of history and storytelling within African American communities.

It’s always great to hear someone describe themselves in their own words.  Can you give us a brief introduction about yourself?

My Name is Brittani Sensabaugh aka Brittsense. I’m a Documentarian originally from Oakland, California, based In New York.

I have been living in New York going on six years and I moved here at 20-years-old. Ever since I was little, I have always been someone who can constantly feel the pain of this earth, but most importantly the love. I tend to feel everything which is why I’m super compassionate when it comes down to my documentations. One of my missions when I’m documenting is to get to the root of the numbness my people feel so they are able to start building better foundations. When observing my documentations I want people to have conversations about different aspects that society tries to cover up. My mission is to bring back the awareness and unconditional love we lack within the communities so that were all able to prosper through the struggles we face daily.

What led to you gravitating to documentary photography in particular? Are there any particular moments, people or photographs that have inspired you in this vein?

When going back home I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to document so I just picked up my camera and started documenting around my neighborhood. I started with North and West Oakland, then went back to East Oakland where I’m originally from. The feeling I got from documenting Oakland was the exact opposite of when I used to document fashion shows because I felt liberated and complete. I realized that I was supposed to be capturing these different stories that are overlooked because there were so many moments where people opened up to me about different situations they felt no one cared about. I consider myself a documentarian because from day one it has always been more than just taking pictures for me. Most of the time I build conversations with people first about the different emotions they are feeling from their life before even taking a picture. 

Photography, and in particular documentary photography, is central to your work. How did you get started as a photographer and what has journey in this discipline been like so far?

When I first moved to New York I started doing fashion photography because I’ve always loved the art of expression and to me fashion is another way you’re able to do that. Every job I’ve had as always been retail and in college I majored in Fashion Journalism. 

Before I pursued photography, Creative Writing was something I loved to do because it was another way for me to express myself, but through my thoughts. I pursued Fashion Photography for four years, two of those years when I first moved to New York City, but after a while it started lacking substance. I remember feeling empty after documenting fashion shows because I found myself wanting to know more about the individual wearing the garment and not just the garment itself. 

A couple months later I was on the J train wearing an Oakland hoodie I own, and this Caucasian woman tapped me on the shoulder and said that I should be careful if I were to ever go to Oakland because of how dangerous it was. She went on to say how there is nothing but “gangbangers” and people who sell drugs that live there. I then interrupted, after being tired of hearing all these misguided truths, and told her that I was from there and I am none of the things that she described. I remember feeling angry because this wasn’t the first time someone had said such awful statements about where I was from and I felt like most people have these perceptions on Oakland and about any place that “black” people live. I had that conversation in August and I went back home the next month in September to start my first series ever documented titled “222 Oakland”.

Can you explain and tell us more about your ‘222’ projects and the significance behind them?

My 222 movement roots from 2007 when my older brother Michael gave me my first Kodak camera which introduced me to photography. Two years after that he died in his sleep at the age of 28, and two years after that I moved to New York to pursue my photography career. 

My brother is the reason I considered doing photography because he made me realize that my vision matters and that I should share it with the world. I created this movement in remembrance of him. Every city that I document and series I create I begin it with “222” and, interestingly enough, I recently started studying numerology and found that the number 2 is my life number. Anyone that continues to break societal boundaries and gives unlimited passion and unconditional love to their craft and life period is a example of the 222MOVEMENT. 

On your website, you state that your overall mission is to “document communities that have been forgotten and people who feel they have no voice.” Can you elaborate on this for us?

When I pick up my camera to document I have two missions: document communities that have been forgotten and people who feel they have no voice, and to bring awareness towards the people living inside and outside these areas by showing them that WE all share the same struggle if your skin is Melanated. 

I have documented Oakland, New York,Philly,Baltimore,Houston, and Watts, and the story in all places sound and look the same. I make it my business to go and shoot all the places around the world that the media talks down upon. I not only document the story and emotions they will NEVER show, but I make sure I document the REASONS WHY things are happening this way. 

In my mind I feel this is a way to create a new set of histories and paint a different picture for my people. It is a way to knock down all the divisions they have placed in our minds and for us to wake up and see the system they have placed us under, A system that WE contribute to by not knowing OUR HISTORY. There are no doubts that if you are “black” you will be treated as a brand in this society system, and through my photos I want you to acknowledge that and not dwell but overstand that our culture is beautiful no matter what they put us through. WE can rise above it by becoming more aware, knowing our history and applying that to our daily life experiences.

What have been the most challenging and the most rewarding things in your work so far?

I love my people so much that at times documenting them in areas where they live in deep struggle is still a challenge for me, but I know that this is what I’m supposed to do while being on this earth so I will never stop. Seeing them be uplifted from my documentations is the most rewarding thing I’ve ever experienced. A lot of the time, my people come to me for the answers to get out of their destruction and I don’t have all the answers. But the one answer I do have is that it starts with the Self. It starts with looking deep within yourself so that you can feel and embrace your power and have Self Love. 

222forgottencities has become bigger than me and just my camera, it’s my life. If my people are struggling then I am as well, and I won’t stop giving love until we ALL come from out of these trenches physically & mentally.

I first came across your work on Instagram and was instantly attached to your simple but powerful representations of the people and places you document. How instrumental has Instagram been in connecting your work with audiences?

In many ways I’m a social Introvert so social media can be bittersweet. But it has been a beautiful way for me to spread my movement. I’m very aware of how powerful energy can be so I try to make sure I maintain a balance of being in the world but not totally of it to the point where I allow it to consume my existence. When I’m on any social platform I make sure my audience feels the unconditional love I feel Inside of me.    

Countering all the negativity that takes away from the complexities that contribute towards and make up parts of the environments and daily existence of the communities you document, what is the greatest take away you’ve had so far from your experiences?

My people struggle physically but even more mentally. When you are raised up in broken communities without any resources or blueprint in society to guide you through your journey, it’s much harder to maneuver and build a foundation. When you are ruled under a system that is meant to destroy you & not build you up, It makes you question your worth. When your identity has been erased and replaced with misguided truths, you feel lost and angry. A lot of us are out in the world creating a foundation from nothing and that is something I will always give us credit for. Whether your 9-to-5 is owning a business, creating art, playing sports, getting an education, making music or selling drugs, the common denominator is survival and trying to make sense of situations that make you feel hopeless. 

We learn from the individuals and environment around us and when that is constantly destroyed, you feel defeated and trapped. The mission of this series is to REMIND you of the power, beauty, strength, but most importantly the LOVE in the pain we may often feel daily. It’s to show you that no matter HOW MUCH we go through, WE still shine & will always shine in all that we do because melanin is real power. Our hair, Communication & everyday movement is because of the melanin within our skin.

Do you have any upcoming exhibitions, events or projects coming up that you’d like to share?

I’m working on a film for my 222forgottencities series and finishing up on my “Power Of Melanin” series which I created to show the strength and different levels of beauty that my people embody.

Brittani Sensabaugh’s “222 Forgotten Cities: The Power of Melanin” will be on show at the Betti Ono in Oakland, California, will be on show from February 5th - April 16th, 2016. Her opening night reception and artist talk will take place on February 5th from 6pm-9pm, talk at 7pm. RSVP here.

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