Documenting the Queer Community
2006
Sally Payne talks about documenting trans and gay life through her photography.
Sally has been taking photos since she was ten years old, encouraged
by her stepfather she has always studied and enjoyed it. When her
marriage ended and she was living on her own again she brought a brand
new digital SLR camera and began to document the trans community.
"Trans people love being photographed, it enables us to chart our
progress for one thing. And there is also the narcissistic part of us
that say look at me, I don't dress like this not to be noticed. I
personally like to dress pretty and look nice. Photographing trans
people is no problem whatsoever." Sally has become well known in the
trans community and has exhibited as part of the Out of the Shadows
exhibition during Pride 2007. She has also had four photographs
exhibited at Tate Modern.
Documenting the Queer Community
Sally says that documenting the world around her is the most
interesting aspect of her photography and as she is part of
Birmingham's queer community she enjoys photographing events, like Birmingham Pride. "The last three Birmingham Prides, The Birmingham
Pride Ball and numerous Outskirts functions. I have also been the
official photographer for the annual Midlands trans get together."
Contributed by: Sally Payne, 40