Black Photographers Explore Their Hometowns in Latest Shot On iPhone Campaign

To conclude Black History Month in the US, Smuggler filmmaker Phillip Youmans has directed 'Hometown', the latest in the 'Shot on iPhone' series.  

Apple commissioned 33 Black photographers, covering 17 major cities across the US, to document their hometowns - all shot on the iPhone 12 devices. The campaign not only highlights their talent, but shines a light on their experiences and their local neighbourhoods. 

During Black History Month, the Hometown photography was posted to Apple's Instagram handle, featuring a different photographer each day of the month - the longest ‘takeover’ of any campaign on the handle. 

Apple launched the docu-style film on YouTube, which takes a deeper dive into the experiences of four of the photographers featured in the broader campaign. 

Each photographer recounts the stories they are telling through their work, celebrating what it means to be Black in America, representation of Black culture, what their hometowns mean to them and the history behind the stories. From the streets of Chicago to Black female surfers in LA; from being Black and queer in the South to representing Black culture in America’s capital.

The photographers featured in the YouTube film include: Lawrence Agyei (Chicago), Gabriella Angotti-Jones (Los Angeles), Lauren Woods (Charlotte) and Julien James (Washington, D.C.) 

The campaign will continue into March with local out-of-home appearing across the country, including billboards in the local photographer’s hometowns, many in or near locations featured in the work itself.