This shoot portrays how the subject’s religious beliefs play a part on aspects of their life even though they remain an ordinary person.
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- Imani in Inwood Hill Park, standing out.
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- Imani in nurse’s uniform on a path in Inwood Hill Park approaching with caution, though curious.
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- Imani walking onto Dyckman street on the 26th of September around 4pm, staying out of trouble.
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- Imani seeks peace and serenity.
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- St. Charles church.
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- Imani by her elementary school.
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- Imani taking an interest in a social issue.
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- Imani by Manhattan’s last remaining natural salt marsh in Inwood Hill park concerned about the ducks.
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- Imani by Minisink Townhouse of the NY Mission Society, a community center she volunteered at for a number of years.
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- Imani asks God for patience.
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- Imani unwinds.
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- Fixing herself up after a run.
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- A mural on 125th street in Harlem.
Essay:
For this shoot I chose to study a friend, her name is Imani Randall. Initially I was drawn to focusing on her demeanor and obscurity. As I began shooting her in her nurse’s uniform, a special uniform required for the nursing ministry in some churches, mainly protestant ones, in which their primary concern is the care of the clergy, I realized her religious beliefs were the determining factor in most aspects of her life. As I continued to shoot, I realized the extent to which her religious beliefs influenced her life and what an important role her spirituality served in her life. As I sought to explore the different aspects of this, I also learned that I had many obstacles such as not being allowed to photograph her church and her family’s refusal to partake in the shoot. I decided to think about it in a different way.
My shoot therefore attempts to depict that her spirituality is both cultural and personal. It influences everything from the way she is perceived to her view on social issues. She takes great pride in her Christian upbringing even though she does at times feel a bit out of place because of it. I wanted to highlight the fact that even though she is a very devout Christian who dedicates much of her time to the church, she is also an ordinary young woman.
