Charlotte C Mortensson LG

Oral Coleman

My work is primarily architectural photography. I am interested in documenting the colonial and the self-built architecture in Kingston, Jamaica. I took the two photographs that make up this diptych in the bar that my taxi driver, Oral Coleman, and I often go to when we've finished working. The interior, with its original floor tiles, is beautiful and I've taken many photos of it. It wasn't until I looked through the images later that I realised that I had almost the same shot with and without Oral in the picture.

I was fascinated by the way in which his presence altered the atmosphere of the interior. He is far back from the camera, but his presence has transformed the room. This image was pivotal to my work. Architecture continues to be my main practice, but linking it to portraiture is currently important for me.