Earlier this year, in January, I wrote a personal essay titled, Nobody Saw Us. The essay traced my film photography journey with the realization of learning how to be present behind the camera. I didn’t want to look at my photos and not remember the feeling and the essence of the moment I captured. I wanted to feel the emotions of my friends, family, and peers and realize the connection we had as the camera became invisible. I ended that piece with a line that became a foundation for my photography philosophy: if nobody saw us, at least we saw each other. We just let the film be a witness.
In the same month, I took the biggest leap of my life. I moved all the way from Savannah, Georgia in the USA to Dubai in the UAE. I went to build my career in filmmaking and in photography. It felt like I glided on a parasail as I glided across the world on faith and the hopes of achieving my dreams. Of course, every step of the way, my cameras loaded with film moved along with me. I knew this was a part of my life where I deserved to be present and to allow the film to be only the medium in which I capture my life.
Life is unexpected, though. With a war breaking out, my decision to remain in the UAE or return home was the hardest I’ve ever had to make. This parasail that I was gliding on suddenly lost its lift. I felt like I was falling, and didn’t know where or how to land. With the little direction I had, I put everything on luck and got on a flight to Paris. In the city of love, I was heartbroken. As I flew from Paris back to Savannah, I felt alone. Throughout the whole journey, the camera remained by my side.
My aspirations and hopes dwindled away, feeling like I’ve taken over a thousand steps back. Slowly, I realized because my camera never left me, my work itself came together. What does it mean to witness and to be witnessed? Not only was I currently living this question, but my work was answering it for me. The work which I kept near to me began a new phase of life. The question of Nobody Saw Us was meant to be answered in an exhibition. The journey of an essay to an exhibition is one that I believe completes this chapter. 36 photos, akin to a 35mm film roll, explores this question through states of movement: distance, proximity, and transition. It traces how close I let myself get to the people and places I photographed, from Savannah, Dubai, Paris, and more. This exhibition will debut in Dubai then come home in Savannah, GA representing the same journey I was forced to take. Nobody Saw Us is not about being unseen, but rather seeing and acknowledging those who walked this journey with me. This process is slow and demanding. In hopes of debuting in March 2027, I’ve set up a Kickstarter to support the production of the show. If you would like to be part of it as a contributor any amount would be greatly appreciated. If you would like to join the show as a patron and support the show in this multi-city manner, I would love to speak with you. If nobody saw us, at least we saw each other.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/devonthedirector/nobody-saw-us
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