What happened when 100 cameras were handed out to homeless people in London

What happened when 100 cameras were handed out to homeless people in London

According to Shelter, 170,000 people in London are homeless right now.

170,000. It’s absurd, isn’t it? It’s baffling that we call ourselves a decent society, yet so many people are shivering on the streets, desperate for a meal.

These people form a massive part of London, but most of the time they get ignored.

We avert our eyes when we see sleeping bags under bridges, keep our heads down when we’re asked for change.


Why? Because we know that if we look up and chat to the people living on the streets, we’ll feel too filled with guilt to carry on with our days.



Homeless people need a voice. They need a way to share their experiences.

That’s what Café Art hopes to give those living on the streets with their new exhibition.

On 30 June this year, Café Art held the MyLondon Photography Contest. they handed out 100 one-time-use FujiFilm cameras to homeless people around St Paul’s Cathedral, and asked the individuals to focus not on homelessness, but to capture the London they love.

The resulting 2,500 images were printed and judged, with 20 chosen for the MyLondon exhibition, currently running in the Spitalfields Arts Market.

After a public vote in August, 13 were chosen to create a 2018 calendar, launched through Kickstarter this week. You can now buy the calendar online.

The photographs in the exhibition will also be on sale, with all the money going straight to the artist.

Here are some of the photos people living on the streets of London took to capture the city they love.

Bat out of Hell, Fitzrovia

Suban goes to the art group run by One Support in Camden Town. She became homeless years ago when bringing up a child, and now lives in Haringey.

French Couture, Islington

‘There was a doggie dress up contest,’ says Ella Sullivan. ‘I went across and took some shots of the dogs I liked, including Ace who seemed to be posing.’

Born in London , Ella grew up on the south west coast of Ireland . She returned to London over 20 years ago and now lives in Islington. She is a trained hairdresser.

She has just finished a pre-foundation course in Art and Design at Mary Ward Centre in London where she hopes to continue with her studies in September. She goes to art sessions run by SHP near Essex Road, Islington.

‘I was having some problems with my housing so that was why I got referred to SHP. I’ve had good support from them.’

London Icons, Westminster

Tim Paul took this shot in Bell Lane, near the Strand. He says the post boxes and telephone boxes are symbolic to London.

‘There’s something about red: red boxes, red buses. I kept thinking about London being red… I saw a guy called Jon with a bike standing behind the phone box and I asked him if he wouldn’t mind standing in it for this shot.’



Tim is an artist at 240 Project in West London.

‘They have helped me with my self esteem. When I came I was in a bad place mentally – very depressed, low self esteem. People here don’t ask too many questions so I can be myself.

‘Everyone just accepts each other here.’

Talking about the MyLondon contest, Tim says he had never used film before and found the project a challenge because of the limited number of shots.

Big Ben by Leon Lawson

An unusual view from the sculpture outside St Thomas’s Hospital, across the river from the Elizabeth Tower, more commonly known as Big Ben.

Punk Rockers, Camden Town

Jackie said it was a hot day so a good day to visit Camden Lock Market.

‘They were happy to pose for the camera. While not as common as they used to be, you can still see punks around Camden Town most weekends,’ says Jackie, ‘especially when it’s hot.’

Jackie goes to the Haringey Recovery Service, which is run in partnership with St Mungo’s, where she does voluntary meditation teaching.

‘It’s important to share what people have given to you and never forget where you come from,’ Jackie says. ‘Never ever look down on anybody unless you’re picking them up.

‘I love London. It’s a cosmopolitan city with a lot of culture. I like taking pictures, especially in my favourite haunts, Alexandra Palace and Hampstead Heath.’

Shadow Play, Islington

‘This photo was taken in Hemingford Road Islington whilst I was out for a walk with my daughter on a sunny Sunday afternoon.


‘I happened to have a red balloon in my bag so I blew it up whilst I found an amazing shadow of my girl on the wall with it. I loved the optical illusion that it created of her holding the balloon.’

Hackney Sax

‘I’ve always been a fan of street art in London and since I was a teen this mural has been one of my favourites. Created by Ray Walker in 1985, it was painted to promote peace and unity, while making a statement against nuclear weapons.

‘Being able to combine my love of music and street art in photography is really cool.

‘I met Tashomi around 10 years ago at a gig, so when I had the idea for this shot, he came to mind. I asked him to play his sax while taking the pictures, which meant we attracted some attention.

Trackside, Southwark

Hugh Gary took this shot of the Shard from London Bridge Station.

‘I visited London Bridge to take a photo of the platform, turned around and seen the full length of the shard and thought the line of the platform canopy merges perfectly with the building,’ he says.

Hugh is an ex-serviceman, having been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan during his ten years with the British Army. He became homeless two years late.

Hugh found shelter with West London mission’s Big House, a hostel for veterans and is currently waiting for his own place through Stoll, who seek to rehouse veterans across London.

He has now in his final year of a Photography degree, at the University of West London. Where he founded a photographic society, to support his fellow students.


Angel Kid, Shoreditch

This shot was taken in Shoreditch, one of Maya’s favourite parts of the city.

‘I’m always there. My model is Jonathan, the son of two of my best friends. He’s five years old. It’s such a sweet age: full of curiosity and still so innocent.

‘You hear that old adage never work with kids, but because he’s my little buddy, making him smile and laugh for the photo wasn’t an issue.

‘I had a vision for capturing this spot, but when we arrived I realised he wasn’t tall enough to fit the wings, so had to find something to add a bit of height. I asked around eventually managed to borrow this mini step ladder which was perfect.’

Pearly Queens, East London

A substance abuse problem cost Geraldine her house and business before she finally got clean a few years ago.

‘I’m from Dublin but I arrived here a long time ago and I live in a housing association now. I’ve been homeless twice. And I’ve nearly lost my home a few times because of my addiction.

‘I went to Crisis as a volunteer. I wanted something to do with my life.’

She currently helps Café Art’s calendar project in Spitalfields Market, mainly helping with mentoring new vendors to gain sales skills, which was her background.

‘I think the calendar has empowered a lot of people. For three years now I have seen a lot of people really change their lives.’

Hands In, Liverpool Street

A former business owner producing clothing, he lost his house, became homeless after his marriage broke up.

‘I struggled. Lucky for me I came into contact with various social agencies including SHP, The Hanbury Project (Acorn House).

‘I can frame a shot better now in my mind’s eye. I can just know which is a good shot to take. The tips I got from The Royal Photographic Society [training day] stood me in good stead because now I’m more disciplined.

‘I think my confidence has increased. I am in a happy place now. I realise that man is not an island. I needed to reach out: people need people.’

Infinity, Westminster

David Fussell says he was waiting to get a shot of a bird or a plane when this view presented itself.

‘Right in front of me was a frame within a frame within a frame.’

David, who sleeps rough, used to be a film maker.

‘After my home flooded, I lost the property. I came back to London from Essex. To me London is home.

‘A part time job has allowed me to get a 2nd hand MacBook Pro and audio interface to progress with my music and film making, finishing a film called Mystic Demon Killer.

‘The bench I sometime sleep on is near R.A.D.A and I have even recorded some Foley sound effects for my film on that bench.

‘I’m hoping to progress in both my own projects and get some freelance work with a media company or some creative individuals, as this is what I used to do previously.’

Vertigo, Kensington

This shot is from high up inside the Natural History Museum.

Photographer Stephen James Stephen grew up in Twickenham and South Kensington. Homeless a few years ago, he ended up getting his own housing association flat a year ago in the Notting Hill area.

‘Life has begun again.’

Summer Dip

Husna was cycling along with a friend when they discovered this swimming area.

Keep Moving, Canary Wharf

‘I wanted to capture the stillness on the escalator before they enter the fast pace outside,’ says Karina, who took this shot in Canary Wharf Station.

‘Bankers, tourists and the homeless on their daily routine.

‘In school I was bullied which interfered with a lot of my education. Things where disrupting at home. I got removed from home at 14 and by 15 I was homeless. I ended up in shelters and never got permanent accommodations.

‘Then I got help and was able to stay in a shelter.

‘Sometimes we can get knocked off our path. We cannot stay down. We need to keep moving forward.

‘If you feel your physical wellbeing is down then keep up your mental wellbeing. The battle will not be lost unless you accept defeat. I am grateful for the things around me. I keep everything moving.’

Dragon bridge, Holborn

‘On my daily walk over the Holborn viaduct I noticed the dragon’s tongue and the black knight helmet had a perfect triangular frame. I then waited for a London bus to pass to make it complete the shot.’

Still Here, Brick Lane

‘This is Mick Taylor, known as Teapot, Little Harvey and more nicknames,’ says photographer Lou Danby.

‘Lots of people know him as he’s been round a bit. People had thought he was dead so I took a photo of him in front of this mural on Brick Lane!’

Mick grew up in Clapton, Hackney but has lived near Spitalfields for years. Lou says he’s one of the last proper Cockneys. His upbringing was hard and they were very poor, says Lou.

‘At the same time, he had a lot of fun and there was a lot of love.’

Mick, 72, met Lou five years ago. ‘She’s a great help,’ he says. ‘She comes around and takes me for walks.’

Café Art MyLondon Exhibition takes place at Spitalfields Arts Market, Tuesday 10 October to Sunday 15 October, 10am – 5pm daily.

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