The Outcasts Project

In this chapter, the author focuses on a research study that he conducted from 2014 to 2015 involving documentary photography and photo-elicitation aimed at disrupting hegemonic representations of chronic heroin users in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES). The central intention behind The Outcasts Project was to produce a body of practice-based visual work that could counter dominant modes in documentary photography of representing heroin users. The greatest challenge was photographing the participants engaging in a wide range of activities in a variety of settings. For decades, many documentary photographers and photojournalists have consistently produced stigmatizing images of injection drug users. In many photo-elicitation projects, participants respond to images they have taken themselves. This can allow participants to develop a sense of agency that comes from playing active roles in the research or production process and having feelings of ownership of the photos.