In a poignant exploration of humanity, Scot Sothern’s latest project,
LOOK AT ME, turns a provocative lens on homelessness, Hollywood tourism, and the unseen struggles of everyday Americans. Through the lens of
alternative street photography, Sothern positions himself as a modern-day
vagabond, echoing the profiles of those he encounters on his odyssey, coming face to face with humankind, capturing the unfiltered essence of life at its
most candid.
An orange plastic bucket, flipped over for a makeshift seat, becomes
both a prop and a metaphor for the raw realities of life on the streets. In this
conceptual endeavor, Sothern shoots with plastic disposable (analog) film
cameras, adding a layer of spontaneity and authenticity to each frame. Seventy-four years old and physically handicapped, with his bucket seat and sec-
ond-hand walker, ungroomed and clad in beat-up Levi’s and a hoody, Sothern
yells at passersby, “Look at me!” and photographs their reactions. The result
is a riveting documentation of the human response to the unseen, where compassion and animosity collide. Scot’s images become a searing commentary
on the societal gaze, urging viewers to confront and question the norms that
shape our collective consciousness.
LOOK AT ME is a departure from the prevailing narrative of homelessness in America. While acknowledging the good intentions of many photographers documenting the unhoused, Sothern’s work challenges the overex-
posed, exploitative, and redundant portrayals. Rather than focusing on the
lives of the homeless, he turns his attention to the public reactions towards
those living on the streets.
A series of short stories throughout LOOK AT ME completes his visceral performance that transcends the boundaries of conventional artistic expression.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Scot Sothern is a published columnist, novelist, memoirist, and author of five books of photography. His work has garnered considerable acclaim for its unapologetic exploration of societal margins. LOOK AT
ME is his latest endeavor, promising to be a thought-provoking addition to his
already provocative body of work
