Interview: Karen Strunks, 4am Project

There’s condensation slowly taking hold of my window panes like Jack Frost suddenly wants the world to know that winter is upon us, fog covers my entire street so all that is visible is a trickling of lights, an image not unlike those which Karen Strunks, founder, enthusiast and global director of the 4am project enjoys capturing in the small hours of the night.

The sound of the central heating purrs patiently in the background as I sit down to talk to Karen Strunks. The 4am project she explains is a global collaborative photography project that began in the heart of Birmingham with just a compact camera and a night owl.

Karen was first inspired to launch the 4am Project by going out an experiencing that wonderfully dark and unknown hour of the night by herself, she enjoyed what she was doing so much she began posting her photographs online, in no time at all the photos had captured the imagination of others, both here and across the world. The project rapidly expanded with people voting on polls deciding which location they would like to see photo’s of during the wonderfully endearing hour of 4am. It wasn’t long before the project, was dragged from its humble roots around the streets of Birmingham with Karen and her camera, that the project had received global appraise and the 4am Project was born. The Project now reaches the far corners of the globe with people from all backgrounds and cultures venturing out at 4am where they capture the images that we normally never lay eyes on.

Karen’s love for photography all began with the unassuming lure of the compact camera, sitting on the sideboard waiting to unleash its capabilities. Once Karen began snapping away she was hit by the ‘photography bug’ and there was no looking back on the tedious 9-5 job that had once filled her days. She soon embarked on a photography course where she learned the technical ropes and it wasn’t long before she was immersed in the charming world of memories and moments that photography brings.

Karen talks of ‘Capturing the moment’ describing the shots she loves to get - beautiful, unique and worldly images that may pass us by if it wasn’t for the use of a camera. She talks fondly of the candid moments the camera can capture whilst just strolling down the street, shots that unless illustrated could never be appreciated, not even by those that feature in the photographs. It’s a joy and novelty she says to have ‘Birmingham City Centre to myself at 4am as it is rarely seen without the buzz of commuters and life which it encompasses during the day’.

In five years time Karen wants to be combining her great love of photography and social media with her passion for travelling the world, Karen has just recently returned from New York City and you can see some of that journey as well as some of the amazing photos she took whilst there at http://bigappleunpeeled.blogspot.com/ Also check out http://4amproject.org/ for more on the 4am Project.