Freelance photographer to capture 4am 'global snapshot'

A late-night journey through the streets of Birmingham last year was all it took to get freelance photographer Karen Strunks' creative juices flowing.

"I was driving through the city after a night out and I thought it was rare to see the UK's second city so quiet," Strunks told Journalism.co.uk.

A sleepless night later in the year prompted Strunks, who started a part-time photography course 18 months ago, to get her camera out and snap the city at 4am.

After monthly postings of pictures from 4am to her blog, Strunks wanted to open up the idea to readers of her blog and Flickr users and asked for requests for areas of the city to photograph.

To take the collaboration further, Strunks started the 4am Project, which calls upon photographers to add their own images of where they are at 4am on Saturday April 4.

People can submit photos to Flickr [see slideshow below], tagged with '4amproject' or via email to Strunks, including their name, location of the picture and any story behind it. These will be collated and posted to the project's website.



The aim is to offer a unique view of the UK and beyond by capturing a moment in the small hours of the morning, said Strunks, who will lead a 'photo walk' on Saturday morning starting at Birmingham's Bullring and taking in New Street Station.

"What I'd like to aim for next year is for people from other countries to organise their own events. I have been so touched by people's responses and their enthusiasm. People all around the world, from lots of different countries are all coming together for one project," she said.

"Even though they are miles apart they are all connected by their interest in the project. Hopefully people are connecting not just with me but with other people as well."

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