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Born and bred in Northern New Jersey over a half-century ago, photography first came to Ken Hipkins in two guises: the achievements of neighborhood photographer Reginald Wickham and the 1969 exhibition 'Harlem On My Mind' at the Metropolitan Museum in New York City. After attending an early incarnation of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington DC, Hipkins spent 'a chunk of a century' working at another venerable photographic institution; the neighborhood camera store.
In their heyday, such brick and mortar stores offered photographic products, services, and knowledge, contributing to enriching a combined professional and consumer photographic community. Hipkins has produced fine art, portrait, wedding, and editorial photography using small and large format film cameras, and digital capture. 'The right tool for the right job' remains a personal philosophy.
Like many photographers, Hipkins was exposed (no pun intended) to photography as a child, most notably, the work of New Jersey photographer, Reginald Wickham. The desire to create images, coupled with a complete inability to draw, established photography as his choice of medium.
Hipkins likes film formats from 35mm to medium format to 8x10 large format.
Digital photography is extremely useful, too.
Sunday.
By custom, tradition, sometimes legislation, 'a day of rest'.
Sunday Morning.
Folks are gearing up to rest. Or, to work, if Sunday happens to be, for them, a work day.
It is a little quieter, a little calmer, than a weekday morning.
I photograph people on public streets, or, from public spaces.
I ask their permission; 'may I photograph you?'
I am asked "Why?" "For what?" "Who are you with?" "What is it for?"
All fair questions, especially in these early twenty-first century times.
A personal project; photographing my Shaw neighborhood on Sunday Mornings.
This is for me.
I watch how people react to my request; I watch them watching me.
As a large black man, the simplest, and most erroneous conclusion to jump to, is, that I am some type of threat.
Accordingly, it is easy for me to conceal, that I am somewhat of a nerd.
I speak calmly, clearly, sincerely.
I am encroaching on them, after all.
I have violated their personal space.
They cannot be sure, what I will do with a photograph of themselves.
They have only their snap judgement of my character, my self, to help them decide whether or not to believe what I've said to them.
The medium format film camera confers some legitimacy to my presence.
I use it for the quality of the photographing experience; the quality of results, afterwards.
And, the burly, solid, shiny photographic tool does help sell the idea that I am serious, and not just fooling around, or scamming, or anything sordid.
One Sunday morning, a woman exclaimed 'what a lovely camera' before I could say a word to her.
I thanked her and asked to photograph her, and her accompanying child.
Instantly, the suspicious questions flared.
I gave her my calm, clear, sincere answers, and waited; she smiled, and acquiesced.
Why am I doing this personal project?
I am, after all, no August Sander.
Well, it is a little quieter and a little calmer on Sunday Mornings, a 'day of rest'.
And, the light's usually good.
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