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The Awakening
The Awakening
Marksteen Adamson
February 16, 2024
Girl On Fire
Frankie is a British-born second generation Kenyan. Growing up in a predominantly white community, life was always more of a challenge for her. Despite this, with persistence and dedication, she studied hard and made her debut in the world of computer programming. She is also a creative innovator, sewing and designing her own clothes at the London School of Fashion
The Awakening deals with the human spirit and its deep capacity to overcome challenges, trauma and obstacles, and to transform past behaviours into positive, new beginnings and approaches. In this manner, Adamson sees how the world can become a better place.
LFI: How did you come up with the idea for this portrait series? What does the title, The Awakening, refer to?
Marksteen Adamson: I’ve always been interested in the human condition and personal identity. How we grow in life and move into new identities as we learn more about ourselves and from others. I’m drawn to individuals who are going through or have been through adversity, challenges and hardships, but are fighting hard to get to where they believe they should be. It’s the power of the human spirit when it has focus, clarity and determination that inspires me. It’s the tribe I belong to. This new Awakening series is my attempt at capturing their vulnerability as well as their strength, empowering them to see their own greatness and affirming who they truly are.
What was your intention with this series?
To explore the human spirit and its profound ability to overcome challenges, traumas and obstacles; and to use new learnings to convert past behaviour into positive, new beginnings and actions, that the individuals are making, and that inspires others to achieve more in life and to always reach for the stars.
When and where were the earliest and the most recent images photographed?
The first image in the series was taken in 2020, showing my youngest son, George, and titled Wonder Boy. The last image I took was of Layla who is a British Palestinian living in the UK.
What camera system did you use and what did you like about it?
The Leica SL2, Leica M10, Leica Q3 with Summilux-M 35 f/1.4 Asph and Summicron-M 50 f/2. These are my own Leicas. I switched to Leica many years ago. I like the simplicity of using these cameras and I love the look you get from the small compact lenses. My go to lenses are the 28mm, 35mm and 50mm. After many years of shooting, I feel like these are the holy trinity. It’s all I will ever need in life.
What does photography mean to you in general?
Ever since I was a child growing up in the bush on a mission station in central Tanzania’s savannah, with no electricity and no running water, I was fascinated by National Geographic – the only window I had to the rest of the world. Every month it would arrive, (3 months late) and after my father had read it, I would take it and look through all the amazing photo stories for weeks. I was also obsessed with the camera advertisements and swore that, when I had money one day I would by my first camera. It was my childhood ambition to capture the world around me and tell stories. I love photography because it allows me to slow down, manage my ADHD, focus purely on what’s in front of me, forget everything else and just be in the moment, hidden behind my camera with a single purpose: to capture interesting people, places, and situations. I love how a photograph can capture the very essence and soul of a person, if you spend time with them and get to know them. I have many hobbies, including bee-keeping, but photography is the practice that calms me down the most and inspires me.
Carla Susanne ErdmannLFI: How did you come up with the idea for this portrait series? What does the title, The Awakening, refer to?
Marksteen Adamson: I’ve always been interested in the human condition and personal identity. How we grow in life and move into new identities as we learn more about ourselves and from others. I’m drawn to individuals who are going through or have been through adversity, challenges and hardships, but are fighting hard to get to where they believe they should be. It’s the power of the human spirit when it has focus, clarity and determination that inspires me. It’s the tribe I belong to. This new Awakening series is my attempt at capturing their vulnerability as well as their strength, empowering them to see their own greatness and affirming who they truly are.
What was your intention with this series?
To explore the human spirit and its profound ability to overcome challenges, traumas and obstacles; and to use new learnings to convert past behaviour into positive, new beginnings and actions, that the individuals are making, and that inspires others to achieve more in life and to always reach for the stars.
When and where were the earliest and the most recent images photographed?
The first image in the series was taken in 2020, showing my youngest son, George, and titled Wonder Boy. The last image I took was of Layla who is a British Palestinian living in the UK.
What camera system did you use and what did you like about it?
The Leica SL2, Leica M10, Leica Q3 with Summilux-M 35 f/1.4 Asph and Summicron-M 50 f/2. These are my own Leicas. I switched to Leica many years ago. I like the simplicity of using these cameras and I love the look you get from the small compact lenses. My go to lenses are the 28mm, 35mm and 50mm. After many years of shooting, I feel like these are the holy trinity. It’s all I will ever need in life.
What does photography mean to you in general?
Ever since I was a child growing up in the bush on a mission station in central Tanzania’s savannah, with no electricity and no running water, I was fascinated by National Geographic – the only window I had to the rest of the world. Every month it would arrive, (3 months late) and after my father had read it, I would take it and look through all the amazing photo stories for weeks. I was also obsessed with the camera advertisements and swore that, when I had money one day I would by my first camera. It was my childhood ambition to capture the world around me and tell stories. I love photography because it allows me to slow down, manage my ADHD, focus purely on what’s in front of me, forget everything else and just be in the moment, hidden behind my camera with a single purpose: to capture interesting people, places, and situations. I love how a photograph can capture the very essence and soul of a person, if you spend time with them and get to know them. I have many hobbies, including bee-keeping, but photography is the practice that calms me down the most and inspires me.
ALL IMAGES ON THIS PAGE: © Marksteen Adamson
EQUIPMENT: Leica SL2, Leica M10, Leica Q3, Summilux-M 35 f/1.4 Asph, Summicron-M 50 f/2
LFI 8.2018+-
You can find his series Cheltenham Folk in LFI 8.2018. More
Marksteen Adamson+-
The photographer grew up on a mission station in Tanzania and has lived in many countries – Denmark, Holland, USA and Great Britain. He speaks four languages, is a keen cyclist and motorcyclist and an avid collector of many things. He also writes music and plays numerous instruments. With his agency, Asha&Co, Adamson works successfully in the advertising industry and lives in Cheltenham with his family, his four children, a Patterdale Terrier, two cats and a productive Beehive. More
Girl On Fire
Frankie is a British-born second generation Kenyan. Growing up in a predominantly white community, life was always more of a challenge for her. Despite this, with persistence and dedication, she studied hard and made her debut in the world of computer programming. She is also a creative innovator, sewing and designing her own clothes at the London School of Fashion
The Rock
Jack is part of a new generation aspiring to live a minimalistic life, conscious of their impact on the planet and on each other. To his friends and family, he is a rock. His calm and empathetic nature, as well as high standards of integrity have stood him well as he writes and produces his way through an increasingly brutal music industry. Jack refuses to buy fast fashion and believes that we can save the planet if we work together
The Street Mentor
Originally from Uganda, Richard now lives and works in the UK as a mentor. He has brought his old-soul wisdom to the youth of his local town, who adore him and find solace in his words of encouragement. His ambition is to keep growing his street basketball group, that represents a place of community, connection and purpose for so many local young people
The Dog Whisperer
Peter Akano specialises in dog behaviour with an abundance of empathy for canines. In his own words, “Dogs are social, pack creatures. Each and every one of them is programmed with this order and looking for leadership within their pack.” Pete works with any dog, no matter how emotionally or physiologically damaged it is, using the ‘Power of the Pack’ methodology. Orphaned and adopted at a young age, Pete knows what it feels like to be the rebel outsider. His track record and achievements with misbehaving dogs are impressive. He is also one of the few who can work with and rehabilitate dogs that are under destruction orders from the courts
Wonder Boy
This is George, my youngest son. At 14 years old, George chose this outfit for his personal study “How Social Expectations of Masculine Attractiveness have Restricted Male Expression Through Fashion”. He says, “I think the way men are expected to be in society is detrimental. The expectation of ‘manliness’ – wanting all the ‘manly’ parts of the typical masculine attitude without any of the vulnerabilities – limits emotional expression, while still needing mature understanding of the mental state. It’s no wonder men struggle to develop a feminine side.” George means the world to me and, more importantly, he has taught me a lot about the new world we now live in
The Defender
Layla is a British Palestinian. In her early years she’d always had ambitions to work on Human Rights, focusing on the plight of refugees around the world. However, after the events of October 7, and seeing the horrors of what was happening to her people far away, she has now made a sworn commitment to support and speak up for the Palestinian cause. Layla is on a mission to make the world a better place and wants to be part of a peaceful solution to end the hate and horror of war
The Warrior
Jessica has been a young carer since childhood and is now also an ambassador for Action For Children, as well as a digital marketing artist. A trip to the sea with her brother and friends was a chance to reflect and renew confidence. Today, Jessica is an accomplished Marketing Manager with substantial experience. She focuses on impactful, community-driven initiatives in the third sector. She has a BA in Classical Civilisation and Philosophy. Her interests span arts, culture and endurance sports, and she is a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion in both her professional and personal life
The Epilogue
I met Michael some years ago whilst out walking with our dogs. An accidental friendship grew, despite his angry and mostly bleak outlook on life. After being diagnosed with terminal cancer, I went to see him and his demeanour had transformed, expressing humour and gratitude for what he had. I asked if I could photograph him as he sat on his new NHS bed and looked out into the evening sun set. He was peaceful and resolved