Traces of Warmth

Homelessness is on the rise in every European country except for Finland. In the UK, 300,000 people are homeless (13,000 more than the year before), and over 1,000 people sleep on the streets of London every night. In Germany, it’s estimated 50,000 people are living directly on the street, and in Berlin last year alone 30,000 people slept in emergency and community accommodation, double the number from the year before. In the winter months, the conditions for those sleeping rough becomes increasingly dangerous. Using state-of-the-art thermal imaging technology, I have been taking a closer look at the extremities endured daily by some of society’s most vulnerable people. Through their stories, and the striking infrared colour palette, I hope to highlight some of the difficulties of sleeping on the streets, and the importance of having more beds and shelters available for those in need. It is my hope that by adding a new perspective to this growing problem, these images will act as a vivid reminder to some of our cities greatest failings, and perhaps encourage us to show a little more warmth to those members of our communities that are all-to-often overlooked.