The Black & White Bedroom Series

by Jonene Lee

My daughter was 3 years old, her father and I had just broken up, I moved into an apartment an immediately had an idea : a photo series. One of the reasons I loved the apartment was because it had high ceilings, which I think most of us are suckers for. My bedroom had a white wall that I decided not to hang anything on because I knew I wanted to take photos of people in front of it. I didn't have a plan as to how I wanted to do it, I just thought "I'm going to ask people I know to come over, talk with me a little and then take some photos against my bedroom wall." The talking part came because I knew I wasn't inviting models over. I was inviting different types of artists, who needed to be loosened up a little with a convo. before getting in front of a camera. Plus, posing people isn't my thing, never has been. It's why I never liked shooting weddings or family photos. I like candids or the in between movements between poses.

I'd reach out to someone via text (if I knew them that well and had their number) or I'd slide in their DMs ;) But it was a friendly ... hi, I'm doing a photo series, would you want to come over? Bring a few different outfits. You'll be here for about 2 hours.

~And The Black & White Bedroom Series was born~

I started the project in November of 2019 and I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed getting to know and having intimate conversations with different artists in Philly.

I especially enjoyed inviting people over that I didn't know very well. We knew the same people but had never met, so my bedroom was a great place for us to get to know each other.

I had to end the series because of covid and by the time we were all able to be social again, I was already on to a new idea: an art gallery. A lot of people told me to take it to video or a podcast and I tried it. Meaning, I made a youtube video talking to an artist, but it's not the same. And a podcast ... I don't know ... I feel like everyone has a podcast and I don't want to be like everyone else.

After I would take the photos, I'd edit them and write a little essay about how I knew the person and what we talked about. I'm going to share solo shoots and the essays that go with them as blog posts in the future.

I haven't found the right space for the series to continue. The idea came to me because of how I felt when I walked into that apartment and saw the wall. I haven't felt that in a space since then, but when I do, I'll start the series again.

Thanks for reading

Jonene

xoxo