Working for over two decades in the field of harm reduction has given me a privileged level of access that many photographers will never get to this wonderfully diverse set of communities.
My photography subjects are the workers, advocates, people who use drugs and academics I have met around the world. Sometimes it’s people I meet once at a conference, often it’s people who I meet repeatedly over the years, building friendships and trusts that I try and reflect in my photographs.
Harm Reduction Heroes
Working in harm reduction all these years I’ve met some amazing people. I tend to think of them as a single harm reduction community, but in reality they are part of many distinct communities that share a basic philosophy. That philosophy, at it’s purest, aims to reduce individual and community harms while working to ‘meet people where they are at’ (physically and mentally) without judgement.
Drug Use Equipment
I’m currently working on multiple projects covering drug use equipment, it’s history and use. These include projects around drug related litter and a project documenting a beautiful collection of vintage drug paraphenalia.
The Hands Project
I started this project back in 2014 when I realised that one of the ‘constants’ in my photography was my obsession with people’s hands. Many of the people in our harm reduction communities have hands that tell stories and/or reflect their personality. A significant portion of us have tattoos and scars documenting our lives.
Event Photography
Over the years I’ve been very lucky to attend events, seminars, conferences around the world, harm reduction cafés, or even just the times a small handful of us meet up in a friend’s appartment for a meal. All of these times I can be found behind a camera.
Kassandra Frederique
Kassandra Frederique is in the process of becoming the next Executive Director of the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA).
Mohawk the Educator
Mowhawk Greene is a harm reduction educator, drug policy reform advocate, and activist. Mowhawk is also the founder and president of New York Dance Safe.
Shilo and Monique
Shilo Jama is the Director of the People’s Harm Reduction Alliance (PHRA) in Seattle. Monique Tula is the Executive Director of Harm Reduction Coalition.