LGBTQIA+ individuals have immensely contributed to society in varied spheres, but despite their wonderful perspectives, they have been shoved aside due to their identity. There are many instances where their works—whether in science, culture, art, or politics—have been deliberately omitted from history books or their identity has been ignored at the cost of maintaining heteronormativity. It is quite infuriating to see such exclusion of bright minds, and many today are trying to repair the damage their ancestors have caused. In photography circles, too, things gradually changing, but the pace of transition is achingly slow. One of the ways one can continue to educate themselves about identity is through a new photo book by Thames and Hudson, which offers an “unprecedented view” of the medium’s history through a queer lens.
The images are screenshots from Thames and Hudson’s website.
The photo book is titled Calling the Shots: A Queer History of Photography, and it has been curated by Zorian Clayton, who works at the Victoria & Albert Museum as a curator specializing in 19th and 20th-century prints. Due to his background, Clayton is able to create a photo book drawing from the largest archive available to him and present a range of works that showcase works of queer photographers from the 19th century until now. Call the Shots focuses on pioneering photographers, subjects, and collectives from the communities while also focusing on themes of activism, battles, performance, and subcultures. As a result, the photo book doesn’t not only present queer photography as one single category but describes the images using terms such as “icons,” “bodies,” and “liberty.”
With a total of six chapters, Call the Shots opens each section with an introduction followed by images and detailed captions for historical images. There is also an artist in the focus segment, further highlighting photographers and their achievements in context to the larger LGBQIA+ history. Clayton’s vision has been to not just fulfill the omission from history but also to analyze how these artists create queer art itself. Some of the photographers featured in the book include e Leigh Bowery, Madame Yevonde, and Lucian Freud, which documents even their personal, often vulnerable side.
Furthermore, one sees the existence of queer spaces and cultures, which predates the existing structures we are so proud of. There is also a depiction of LGBTQIA+ movements, such as London’s “molly houses,” to our current activism around the world. The photo book also depicts struggles, joy, and reclamation of queer identity through the pages, both with the help of documentary and staged works. The book further aims to highlight photography’s significant role in documenting an otherwise excluded group.
Calling the Shots is a reminder that when the world turns on you, artistic mediums can certainly be liberating, allowing one to mark the milestones of one’s life. The photo book is a great way to understand queer art and identity in a holistic manner. It is exactly the document we need today to showcase that despite the binaries, we still are human. And that is the most significant thing that we must remember to become one. The photo book is a milestone publication that showcases the essence of recognizing diverse and ever-evolving identities within the LGBTQ+ community. This book is not only for people who like photography but also for anyone who wants to understand the community and its experiences.
You can purchase from Calling the Shots: A Queer History of Photography Thames and Hudson’s website.