Adam Krawesky started photographing people on the streets
of Toronto in the summer of 2002. At first, he was hesitant to approach
strangers with a camera, so he instead approached them with a concession;
he asked to photograph them with their hands covering their faces, to
assuage his own fear of confrontation and the stranger's suspicion of
the lens.
The result, in this brief but telling body of work, are portraits of people
with hands that can't lie, of fashions and clothing that do not deceive,
of hairstyles, hats and the ornamentation of jewelry, of surroundings
and backgrounds that inform and color the character of their primary subjects.
What I notice is the truth that comes through from the hands and the postures
of the people behind them. The play-acting of hiding reveals more than
a common portrait might ever reveal.
— Jim Casper
Feature
hands face
Toronto photographer Adam Krawesky took to the streets and asked strangers to pose for him — by covering their faces.
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Feature
hands face
Toronto photographer Adam Krawesky took to the streets and asked strangers to pose for him — by covering their faces.
hands face
Toronto photographer Adam Krawesky took to the streets and asked strangers to pose for him — by covering their faces.
Critics’ Choice 2026
This photography competition is your opportunity to be recognized worldwide.
Top Awards include: An Exhibition in London, International Media Exposure, Cash Prizes, Solo Feature on LensCulture
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Deadline: April 22, 2026

