Foncette describes her photography style as journalistic portraiture – taking pictures of people who tell a story. In each image, she tries to capture not only the person, but also the context of the place and the events that were happening at that moment.
Over the years, she has photographed in places as widespread as Egypt, India, Senegal, Oman and Cuba. However Trinidad and Tobago has remained her main focus. The country’s ethnic and cultural diversity offers an endless range of subjects for its photography. “There are some images I got that look like they’re from Nigeria or southern India,” Fonsette said, “but they’re in Trinidad.”
Apart from cultural festivals like Carnival, she has photographed religious festivals, which require a different degree of respect and sensitivity. She has captured events such as the Hindu observance of Ganga Dhara Teerath and religious festivals in Trinidad Orisha, a belief system originating from the Yoruba religion of West Africa. While photographing such events, she seeks to honor the spiritual significance of the traditions for those who practice them.
Foncette cites her experience working in mental health as integral to learning to navigate these spaces. Like photographers, therapists often have to manage situations where many factors are beyond their control.
“You have to constantly work collaboratively, treating people with dignity and respect, taking your ego out of it,” she said. “As a photographer, it has helped me to know how to be in this space. And as a qualitative researcher, I take those experiences into the way I approach conducting interviews and formulating research questions.”
Foncette is currently working on her dissertation, which investigates how adolescent girls in Trinidad and Tobago receive information and make decisions about sex. After completing her PhD, her goal is to continue doing research, education and policy work on culture and gender equality. And, of course, she will continue to take pictures whenever possible.
According to Foncette, photography has taught her that it is possible to get a positive result from situations outside of her control. Amid the sensational and unpredictable atmosphere of carnival, each of her photos captures the joy and art of the festival in a single moment.
“Every time I take the picture it’s a price in the moment, hearing the shutter click,” she said. “You’ve done all this work, you’ve been up for hours, you’re exhausted, but then you put the memory card in your computer and see the footage. And looking at my images over the years, I go, ‘Wow! I have become much better.’ You keep working at it and you keep learning from it, and you’ll get there eventually.”
Written by Mary Crawford
