LYDIA BALMFORTH
Photography
Donna Pinckley:
Sticks and Stones.
When Donna Pinckley explains how she first concieved the idea to photograph interracial couples, she was sat talking with a friend in the kitchen about her friends daughter and her African American boyfriend. This reminded her of another time she had spoken to another mother. From hearing both of these stories she decided to photograph interracial couples that are still going strong despite the adversity they have faced. Pinckley began adding the hateful words they have been subjected to at the bottom of the images as a reminder of how part of society sees them.
Pinckley's photos are powerful, as the couples pose together, sometimes with their child/ren too. Beneath the photos are insults and slurs that have been said to the couple based upon the fact they are both not of the same race. The insults are sometimes directed at only on person within the couple, however there are sometimes the insults can be aimed at both. Pinckley said she wanted to take these photos to show the strength these couples have thanks to the challenges they have faced.
I think that having these photos in black and white makes this even more powerful and empowering for the couples due to the fact that it makes a statement. These couples and families look beautiful as they pose together. These photos show the love and support these couples and families have between each other.