About
Imogen Tinkler - Street Photographer
I’m Imogen Tinkler, an artist dedicated to exploring the connections we form with others through my ongoing project, Faith in Strangers.
As Ibn Battuta beautifully stated, "Travelling - it leaves you speechless and then turns you into a storyteller." This resonates profoundly with me as I strive to capture the stories and joys of people I encounter.
With Irish parents who moved me to Pakistan in the early 1990s, I found a deep fascination for the tapestry of humanity. As a child, I would sneak onto the roof of our home with my Dad’s camera, mesmerized by the magic of Karachi's sunset skies, painted with vibrant colours and thick dust. The cacophony of the bustling city below, accompanied by the call to prayer and the flutter of birds, ignited my passion for storytelling through photography.
I vividly remember my first night in Karachi, overwhelmed by the chaos of passport control and the shocking revelation from my father about our family dog - it had been shot. Exhausted and anxious, I climbed into bed, only to accidentally trigger the emergency alarm think it was the light switch, which unbeknown to me it summoned guards. They were there to protect but hearing their thick heavy boots come down the corridor and seeing their long shiny guns pop round I felt scared. This felt very different to Essex. In this moment, I realized the essence of trusting strangers and understanding that it was important to follow my insticts.
Through Faith in Strangers, I will document and share the profound human empathy that connects us all, capturing the beauty and complexity of these relationships in an evocative style. My debut zine, Faith in Strangers: Margate, sold out very quickly, and I want to say thanks a million to everyone who bought one!
If you missed out, I'm excited to announce that a second edition is about to go to print. Don't forget to join my email list here for weekly photographic faith in strangers stories at 11am on a Wednesday and to pre order zines 24 hours before anyone else.
Additionally, you can pre-order your own first publication of Faith in Strangers: Whitstable from the 5th of July and Faith in Strangers: Tankerton Slopes from the 20th of August—limited to just 100 copies each.
Great but what is a Zine?
A zine, a contraction of ‘fanzine,’ traditionally embodies a DIY ethos, often crafted through photocopiers or home printers, and seamlessly blends text and images into a visually compelling narrative.
Originating in the early 20th century with fanzines like 'The Messenger,' which highlighted African American politics and culture, zines flourished during the punk rock movement of the 1970s and 1980s as a vital outlet for alternative voices and underground communities.
Over the decades, they have evolved into dynamic platforms fostering creativity and connection with unapologetic authenticity.
Love photography? Grab a cuppa on a Friday and take 15 glourious mintues for yourself while we look at a different photographer master each week, I highlight competition deadlines and will share behind the scences insights and feature emerging photographers. You can sign up to my photography weekly email here.
If you have any questions about the series or want to discuss potential collaborations, email me at imogentinkler@gmail.com or send me a DM on Instagram. Let’s see where our Faith in Strangers can take us.
Photo by Max Deviti - follow his black and white portrait photography on instagram here.