Photographer asks Doncaster people he feels are ‘invisible’ for their opinions on the pandemic

A Doncaster photographer wanted to highlight a different take on the pandemic, so he asked people in the town their thoughts and has collected portraits alongside to document their thoughts on this moment in history.
By Laura Andrew
Published 6th Oct 2020, 12:30 BST
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Les Monaghan was thinking about Doncaster’s representation in the media when he came up with his latest project.

He feels that he doesn’t see an accurate representation in newspapers and online so he has made it his mission to amplify voices he feels go unheard.

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Les, who is aged 51 and lives in Conisbrough, said: “I always think that not a lot of news relates to me.

Les has asked people what their thoughts on the pandemic are.Les has asked people what their thoughts on the pandemic are.
Les has asked people what their thoughts on the pandemic are.

“It always feels like it’s aimed towards someone else.

"Doncaster is not just white men in flat caps that hang out around the market.

“It got me thinking about others that must feel the same way and what I could do to fix that.”

With funding from Doncaster Creates, Les has started taking portrait photos of people he thinks are underrepresented in the media.

The people Les has asked have been what he considers unrepresented in the media.The people Les has asked have been what he considers unrepresented in the media.
The people Les has asked have been what he considers unrepresented in the media.
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He is also asking them to talk about their experiences and thoughts on the pandemic and how it has affected their lives.

The responses that Les has received have been very varied from optimistic about the future to people being incredibly sad about the circumstances they live in.

Les said: “I had one person say humanity is selfish but another talked about the ways the world needs to adapt.

“One woman said she cried for three days straight during the pandemic.”

Les wants to display the photos across Doncaster and hopes to make his art accessible to as many people as possible.Les wants to display the photos across Doncaster and hopes to make his art accessible to as many people as possible.
Les wants to display the photos across Doncaster and hopes to make his art accessible to as many people as possible.
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Due to Covid-19 Les does not know how the artwork will be displayed but he wants it to reach as many people as possible which is why he is considering non traditional methods.

Instead of having the photos in a gallery he is thinking of placing them in shop windows and making them widely available online.

Les has worked on multiple photographic projects in Doncaster including the ‘Desire’ which is on display inside the Frenchgate Shopping Centre.

This collection included 71 images of Doncaster people with quotes about what they most desire out of life.

Opinions on the pandemic vary from optimistic to negative.Opinions on the pandemic vary from optimistic to negative.
Opinions on the pandemic vary from optimistic to negative.
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Les says that an overwhelming amount of people responded with ‘world peace.’

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Related topics:DoncasterPhotographerFrenchgate Shopping Centre