Dan Knott captures the private and professional sides of London creatives
Photography Dan Knott
As lockdown blurs the lines between work and home, the photographer explores this complex duality
By Emma O'Brien
From his early days in the hardcore scene to his recent foray into the worlds of fashion and beauty, photographer Dan Knott has seen a spectrum of creativity. But after lockdown measures were enacted, he found himself at a crossroads of pause or push. Unable to look outward for inspiration, Knott looked closer to home, using some of his 16 housemates (including myself) as models.
“When I asked if anyone wanted their photos taken, my intention was to help (them) with some shots for their LinkedIn or whatever,” he says. “In the end, I actually got the chance to capture the different sides and aspects of my housemates.”
Knott saw an opportunity to return to the roots of photography, documenting a juncture not only within society but within people. In lockdown, many of us have found ourselves in a dual state, expressing versions of ourselves that many don’t see coexisting: the side we show at work and the side we reserve for home. It was this concept that set the wheels in motion for an old-school photo day. With the schedule set, the backdrop up, and the makeup kits brought out after collecting dust for weeks, we were all ready.
“The different hats people wear were so apparent. Their professional, their personal and their creative sides all came through the lens. It gave me an insight to the elements that make them who they are, which was really cool,” Knott said.
Living in a community of creatives usually means a flurry of activity at the best of times, but isolation has seen a whole new world emerge. Time, the luxury we so often yearn for, has landed in our laps and given us the gift of positivity during what could have been a very long few months. The change to our daily routine comes hand-in-hand with a change to our mindset, and an invitation to open up to ourselves and those we are now spending every minute with.
All of us have underlying characteristics that only emerge when the conditions are right. Whether it’s working backstage or teaching a new yoga flow, there are certain moments when we reveal our true selves. And as the four walls of home slowly become our everything, the lines between our inner and outer worlds begin to blur, paving the way for new connections, ties and opportunities.
For Knott, this has been an opportunity to not only forge deeper connections, but also to add to the collective memory bank for those in lockdown with him.
“I am so lucky to be in a warehouse space such as ours, and this time has really given me the chance to see sides of my house mates I don’t normally get to experience. So I was really stoked when I realised this was essentially an awesome opportunity to capture this,” he said.
“It’s a surreal thing to realise that you are currently experiencing such an important moment in your life. To have been so lucky as to share it with the people I live with has been serendipitous.”
