Gallery 2 — The Pilot Collective

Jack Pepper

“Black Lives matter 2022”

I made this because… I initially went down to support and witness the marches, bringing my camera with no real plan to shoot anything. Once there, the energy of the movement and the people was overwhelmingly motivating. There was a flow to everything—from the words spoken through megaphones to the way the crowd moved through the streets. That first day, I was able to capture a few images that resonated deeply with me.

In the following days, I returned and continued to shoot. After posting the first set of images to my Instagram, the reactions were incredibly positive and supportive. It became the most liked and interacted-with post I had at the time. I felt compelled to do something more with these photos, as it was the subjects, the messages, and the movement that imbued them with such significance.

I sold prints for $10 each, matching the first 100 prints bought. I sold around $5,000 worth of prints and donated all the proceeds to reputable organizations suggested by my followers and those involved in the protests.

These pictures hold a special place in my heart and career, as they had a profound impact at the time and allowed me to be a part of something larger than myself.

Creative Inspiration: This is hard because I feel like everyday someone inspires me for one reason or another. Here are a few that come to mind: