Pride Month | Using photography to explore queer identity

To celebrate Pride Month, we speak to Photography student Joss Copeman, who uses a range of photographic approaches to create conversations about queer identity.

His work explores queer politics and notions of the self, using primarily lens-based and vernacular photography, and computer scans. Joss places himself at the centre of his work, bringing into question and mocking the way we present ourselves.

What themes are you addressing in your work?

My work touches on ideas of the self and specifically my experiences. I tend to explore representation, gender and sexuality politics.

My current project ‘21 Years’ – titled because I am 21 years old! – looks at a piece of legislation called Section 28 which came into effect in 1988 and prohibited the “promotion of homosexuality” by local authorities in Britain.

I was born shortly before it was repealed in 2003, and my work examines the way in which it has cast a shadow over people my age who have grown up being part of the LGBTQ+ community.

Do you ever find dealing with such weighty themes problematic?

I try to make it as playful as possible, while still highlighting the importance of the issues. There’s a disposability to some of my work, for instance an image where I’ve literally printed out the Section 28 legislation, scrunched it up and rescanned it. Humour or playfulness is actually a way of drawing people in and then allowing them an opening to the conversation.

How does your work fit within the democratisation of photography?

There has been an odd development over the last 10-15 years whereby people use photography to frame themselves on social media. It’s very much a persona that I present and I think that speaks to the way people present themselves now online. I wouldn’t say I made a conscious decision to do this in my work, but I recognise there are those connotations. It is something I’ve been trying to figure out how to address, and I still don’t think I’ve really mastered it.

How comfortable are you being the focal point of your photography?

One thing I’ve been trying to grapple with is the fact that my work is potentially too inward facing. It does centre around me and my face is featured heavily within it.

I would say that the way I choose to present myself is slightly removed from everyday life – I obviously wouldn’t normally go out wearing a shirt that says “It’s All About Me”!

What technical processes do you use when making your photographs? Do you have a collaborator helping to produce the self portraits?

I use multiple approaches. Some images are more staged, where the studio is specifically lit how I want it to be. Then there are some that are more vernacular photography where I just point and shoot.

Recently I’ve been introducing abstract images as well, which I think are the more personal ones. But typically I’ll be in the studio, set up the lights and camera how I want, and then work with my collaborator and fellow student Holly. We normally do all that stuff together, bouncing ideas off each other. I get her to stand where I’m going to be in order to get the lighting just right. I try to capture everything in shot, rather than doing much post-shoot editing. But equally I’m not one of those people that takes forever trying to get everything perfect. I like to trust my instincts.

What was it about photography that attracted you?

I have just always been drawn to photography. It is something that I’m really trying to experiment with but I haven’t necessary had the time to really do so. But I wouldn’t say I am limited to that medium. After I graduate I would love to experiment more with sculpture and mixed media and video. I think because I’ve studied photography throughout my time in education there’s been a focus on pure photography, but through doing this course I’ve definitely expanded my horizons and that’s something I want to take forward.

The BA (Hons) Photography graduate show takes place at BayArt Gallery, Cardiff, from 16 to 22 June. For more details, follow @uswphotography on Instagram.