BOYS

Strange boys. They run around with balls, put masks and boxes on their heads, wander the courtyards after school, chase pigeons, watch cats… And I try to capture them in my imperfect equipment. And either the lens constantly breaks and starts «flaring» in the corners, or the film rewinds half a frame, giving me an unplanned multiple exposure, or the eye fails during focusing. The resulting photos are funny and «sloppy”—just like those boys.

My name is Sofia, and I am an amateur photographer. I shoot on film and on my mobile phone. I have long since conceived a photo series about these boys, an attempt to capture the essence of childhood play. To me, these boys are like extraterrestrials—I have never had brothers or male friends; I know nothing about them, and I can only observe their games with wonder.

The boys run around, so innocent, carefree, sincere, and playful. And just when they manage to grow up—to grow mustaches and wear ties? You are strange, boys.