Photos: Dolores Park PDA, Up Close & Personal

Anyone who's spent some time in Dolores Park has probably seen couples making out in varying degrees of exhibitionism. Sometimes it seems like they're just too in love to care if anyone's watching. Boston/Bay Area photographer Leah Fasten, noticed them too, and was so drawn to their public displays of intimacy that she decided to make a series about them. For "Lovers in Dolores Park," Fasten approached couples in their 20s spending a day at the park, asking if she could photograph them in the act of kissing, cuddling, and/or giving each other goo-goo eyes.  

I reached out to Fasten to find out more about why she chose to shoot this particular topic, group of people, and location for this San Francisco-focused series:

What was the inspiration for this project?

I am interested in the observation of what it means to be young and in love. I also enjoy the exploration of what intimacy and love look like in a photograph.

This is an ongoing project that is more of a practice than really something with an end in mind.. I don’t start personal projects with any real final intentions. I photograph from an intuitive place and then watch the project take shape as I go. I really enjoy being in the moment with the subjects… it’s an escape for me.

Why did you choose to shoot in Dolores Park?

I started visiting Dolores Park in my 20s, as my sister has lived in the neighborhood for years.  The park is a symbol to me of leisure and youth, and along with that, the love and connection that I think can only exist during a very specific time in our lives. I’m very nostalgic for that time and interested in the fantasy that surrounds those memories.

How did you choose who you shot? Were people you asked to pose receptive to the idea? Did you have to ask a lot of people in order to get enough participants?

I survey the crowd looking for a couple that is clearly embracing, obviously a couple with a physical attraction to each other. Then, I introduce myself and explain the project. There’s often a lot of joking about how funny it is that a lady is walking around Dolores Park taking pictures of people making out… because it is kind of ridiculous. It’s always fascinating to me who’s interested and excited to be photographed and who isn’t. 

Sometimes I’ll share some of the images from the project as well, and then most people are excited to be part of the project. I’ll spend a bit of time with them (~10-20 minutes) photographing them doing what they do. As time goes by I’ll give a few prompts… ask them to kiss, look at each other, talk to each other, drink their drinks.

What's your next project in SF? 

I enjoy photographing in public spaces and am currently exploring the space between work and home. These are images of commuters, street photographs of people on their way to work, and neighborhood photographs of people on their way home from work.

All photos by Leah Fasten