Best of... Darkrooms Magazine - Joseph-Philippe Bevillard

A new special newsletter highlighting an outstanding project from previous Darkroom Magazine issues

Because I like to see as many photography enthusiasts as possible enjoying outstanding work, I decided to try something new: a special Sunday newsletter (once a month) highlighting one of the past projects featured in an earlier issue of Darkrooms Magazine.

This first one will be Joseph-Philippe Bevillard’s project ‘Travellers’. Enjoy

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“The needs of family often affect where we live – which in turn as consequences on our photographic work. I was raised and educated in Boston by French-born parents, and since 1990 worked as a fine-art black and white documentary photographer. In 2000 – after my parents retired to their native France, and my Brazilian-born exwife moved to Ireland – I made the decision to move to ‘Eire’ as well. In addition to keeping the family somewhat intact, I felt Ireland would be a good place to raise my sons. Accustomed to mixed cultures, I was thrilled to see what greeted us as we left Shannon Airport. As I gazed out the window of the taxi I glimpsed a long row of caravans and white vans along the road. This nomadic community was alive with activity: mothers and daughters completing chores, teenage boys burning rubbish, scantily-clothed children; large black-and-white ponies; hand-washed laundry drying on makeshift clotheslines. The driver told me they are called “Travellers” (as well as tinkers or gypsies). With a history dating to pre-Celtic times, they are a recognised ethnic group in Ireland. Their culture and nomadic way of life distinguishes them from the “settled” population. Intrigued, I spend 20 years attending the Travellers’ homes, gatherings and festivals.

Then, in 2010, I got serious: filled with a sense of adventure, I began to document the Traveller culture. My first challenge was to gain the trust of these insular people. The Traveller population in Ireland is estimated around 35,000, but is less than 1% of the population. In general, they are raised as Roman Catholics; girls are married between the ages of 15 and 19 and are expected to be virgins; large families are common. To curb “squatting” on private land, official sites are provided for their caravans which were often on or next to toxic lands such as former landfills or sewage treatment plants. Although Travellers provide useful services as they move through towns, their style of dress, lack of education and the occasional fued between clans often results in discrimination by the larger population. As a “settled person” I was initially treated with apprehension, suspicion or curiosity – but never with hostility.

Over time, as I attended many of their fairs and annual events, the Travellers began to greet me; some even invited me in for tea. Travellers are very proud of their culture, and it is this dignity that I sought to represent. There were obstacles, however, as I am deaf – which makes verbal communication difficult. Despite my aptitude for reading lips, people in Ireland ( not just Travellers) tend to speak very quickly. In order for me to conduct a conversation (by way of lip reading) requires a person to look straight at me. Despite their outward brashness, this directness brought out a shyness. Even so, when I brought out my camera to make a photo, all awkwardness disappeared. The Travellers are a proud people. Now that I have earned their acceptance, I foresee opportunities to work with other clans amongst the lucht siuil (“the walking people”). In my own way, I guess I know what it is to be a Traveller, too.”

Joseph-Philippe Bevillard, September 2020

See more of Joseph-Philippe Bevillard’s work at his website or Instagram

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This brilliant project is one of the 10 projects in issue #2

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That’s it for this (special) newsletter. Let me know your thoughts on this extra newsletter and this amazing project ‘Travellers’

Till next time,

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