This is an archived article, originally published in April 2021. The UNSEEN exhibition and associated events described below have since concluded.
What is Homeless in Focus?
Homeless in Focus is a community initiative that Ted's Cameras has been proud to support in partnership with Fujifilm. The programme places Fujifilm disposable cameras in the hands of members of Sydney's homeless community, giving participants the opportunity to explore their creativity through photography — practising framing, composition, and visual storytelling — while also fostering vital personal connections and a sense of community.
Film from the disposable cameras was processed at Ted's Fujifilm lab at TWI, producing a remarkable collection of images distinguished by their raw authenticity and unique perspective. From each year's submissions, 14 winning images were selected for inclusion in the annual MySydney calendar, with all proceeds donated to charities supporting the homeless community in Sydney.
The Exhibition
A selection of winning images was exhibited at Ted's World of Imaging Ilford Galerie space from December 2020 through January 2021, with the winning photographers invited to view their professionally presented works. Ted's ensured these exceptional images received the presentation they deserved — printed on the Canon Pro 4000 wide format printer using Ilford Pro Smooth Pearl photo paper, and framed using Profile framing solutions.
The UNSEEN Project
The UNSEEN project was created to generate awareness of the hidden experiences of homeless people in Australia, with a particular focus on homeless women. To bring these stories into public view, the project positioned a mobile tiny home across locations in Sydney's CBD, exhibiting winning images captured by female participants of the Homeless in Focus programme over the previous three years.
Each month, the tiny home moved to a new location in the CBD, showcasing a different exhibit — bringing the work of these photographers directly to the public in one of Australia's most visible urban spaces.
Ted's Cameras & the Homeless in Focus Legacy
Ted's Cameras remains proud of its involvement in the Homeless in Focus initiative and the UNSEEN exhibition. Projects like these reflect the power of photography to give voice to those whose stories might otherwise go untold — and the role that the broader photographic community can play in making that happen.