Their Work

Halfway between photography and essay, this project reflects on the meaning of work in our societies. To explore this idea, I interviewed elderly people about the way their work shaped their lives. These conversations weave together personal stories and History, as individual experiences are deeply connected to the evolution of society, including professions that have disappeared, become obsolete, or changed beyond recognition. Both within the project as a whole and across each interview, the narrative follows the course of life, beginning with a midwife, then a housewife, a schoolteacher, a miner, a business owner, a painter, and ending with a gravedigger.
During these interviews, I used a special setup to capture candid portraits without interrupting the participants' stories. The resulting photographs are sometimes imperfect, but full of spontaneous gestures, genuine expressions, and emotions untouched by the presence of the camera. None of the photographs were staged.

The project resulted in a 120-page book combining interview transcripts and photography.