A group gave 105 homeless people disposable cameras. These are the photos they took.
See life through someone else's eyes 👀

These photos are a charming look into another life.
In 2016, a group of 105 homeless people gathered at St. Paul's Cathedral in London.
Each of them was given a disposable camera and told to take pictures that represent "my London."
The photos were entered in an annual contest run by London-based nonprofit Cafe Art, which gives homeless artists the chance to have their work displayed around the city and—for some of the photographers who participate in the yearly challenge—in a print calendar.
"Some people have had experience, and others have never picked up a camera before," said Paul Ryan, co-director of Cafe Art.
The program, Ryan explained, includes mentorship and training from professional volunteers at the Royal Photographic Society, including winners of the contest from previous years—many of whom are ultimately inducted into the society themselves.
A "Drivers Wanted" sign in the window from the MyLondon Photography Contest.
Photo by Richard Fletcher/MyLondon Photography Contest. All photos used with permission.
The goal of the challenge is to help participants gain the confidence to get back on the job market, search for housing, re-engage with their social circles, or even activate dormant skills.
"I really enjoyed it. And I started to get involved in my art again, which I'd left for years," a 2015 participant said in a video for the organization's Kickstarter campaign.
These are 11 of the top vote-getters from the 2016 contest:
1. Ella Sullivan — "Heart Bike Rack"
A heart shaped bike rack.
Photo by Ella Sullivan/MyLondon Photography Contest
2. Alana Del Valle — "London Bus with Sculpture"
A red-double-decker-bus behind a mirrored sculpture.
Photo by Alana Del Valle/MyLondon Photography Contest
3. Beatrice — "Out of the Blue"
A hand shadow reaches up the wall toward a water container.
Photo by Beatrice/MyLondon Photography Contest
4. Laz Ozerden — "What Now?"
Open hands accepting donations.
Photo by Laz Ozerden/MyLondon Photography Contest
5. Leo Shaul — "The Coffee Roaster"
A long coat hugs “The Coffee Roaster."
Photo by Leo Shaul/MyLondon Photography Contest
6. Christopher McTavish — "St. Paul's in Reflection"
St. Paul's Cathedral cast a reflection against a blue shoe in a puddle.
Photo by Christopher McTavish/MyLondon Photography Contest
7. Hugh Gary — "London Calling"
London calling.
Photo by Hugh Gary/MyLondon Photography Contest
8. Keith Norris — "Watching Mannequin"
Rolling your eyes at a mannequin.
Photo by Keith Norris/MyLondon Photography Contest
9. Siliana — "After the Rain"
A boat cruises under the bridge after a rainy day.
Photo by Siliana/MyLondon Photography Contest
10. Saffron Saidi — "Graffiti Area"
Life reflecting art.
Photo by Saffron Saidi/MyLondon Photography Contest
11. Jackie Cook — "Underground Exit"
Who’s that in the stairwell?
Photo by Jackie Cook/MyLondon Photography Contest
Ryan, who has been developing the program for seven years, said that while there's no one-size-fits-all solution for individuals who are homeless, for some who are too used to being "knocked back," the experience of seeing their work on display or in print—and of success—can be invaluable.
"Everyone is helped in a different way, to get up to the next step in whatever way they need to."
Cafe Art's program is still going strong and the last ten years of the contest are documented on their site. Check out the best photos since 2016 and consider buying a calendar to support! You can also weigh in on photos for this year's contest until February 5th.
This article originally appeared nine years ago.
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There's a reason why some people can perfectly copy accents, and others can't
Turns out, there's a neurodivergent link.
A woman in black long sleeve shirt stands in front of mirror.
Have you ever had that friend who goes on vacation for four days to London and comes back with a full-on Queen's English posh accent? "Oooh I left my brolly in the loo," they say, and you respond, "But you're from Colorado!" Well, there are reasons they (and many of us) do that, and usually it's on a pretty subconscious level.
It's called "accent mirroring," and it's actually quite common with people who are neurodivergent, particularly those with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). According Neurolaunch, the self-described "Free Mental Health Library," "Accent mirroring, also known as accent adaptation or phonetic convergence, is the tendency to unconsciously adopt the accent or speech patterns of those around us. This linguistic chameleon effect is not unique to individuals with ADHD, but it appears to be more pronounced and frequent in this population."
Essentially, when people have conversations, we're constantly "scanning" for information—not just the words we're absorbing, but the inflection and tone. "When we hear an accent, our brains automatically analyze and categorize the phonetic features, prosody, and intonation patterns," writes Neurolaunch. For most, this does result in copying the accent of the person with whom we're speaking. But those with ADHD might be more sensitive to auditory cues. This, "coupled with a reduced ability to filter out or inhibit the impulse to mimic…could potentially explain the increased tendency for accent mirroring."
While the article explains further research is needed, they distinctly state that, "Accent mirroring in individuals with ADHD often manifests as an unconscious mimicry of accents in social situations. This can range from subtle shifts in pronunciation to more noticeable changes in intonation and speech rhythm. For example, a person with ADHD might find themselves unconsciously adopting a Southern drawl when conversing with someone from Texas, even if they’ve never lived in the South themselves."
People are having their say online. On the subreddit r/ADHDWomen, a thread began: "Taking on accents is an ADHD thing?" The OP shares, "My whole life, I've picked up accents. I, myself, never noticed, but everyone around me would be like, 'Why are you talking like that??' It could be after I watched a show or movie with an accent or after I've traveled somewhere with a different accent than my 'normal.'
They continue, "Apparently, I pick it up fast, but it fades out slowly. Today... I'm scrolling Instagram, I watch a reel from a comedian couple (Darcy and Jeremy. IYKYK) about how Darcy (ADHD) picks up accents everywhere they go. It's called ADHD Mirroring??? And it's another way of masking."
(The OP is referring to Darcy Michaels and his husband Jeremy Baer, who are both touring comedians based in Canada.)
Hundreds of people on the Reddit thread alone seem to relate. One comments, "Omfg I've done this my whole life; I'll even pick up on the pauses/spaces when I'm talking to someone who is ESL—but English is my first language lol."
Sometimes, it can be a real issue for those around the chameleon. "I accidentally mimicked a waitress's weird laugh one time. As soon as she was out of earshot, my family started to reprimand me, but I was already like 'oh my god I don’t know why I did that, I feel so bad.'"
Many commenters on TikTok were shocked to find out this can be a sign of ADHD. One jokes, "Omg, yes, at a store the cashier was talking to me and she was French. She's like 'Oh are you French too? No, I'm not lol. I'm very east coast Canada."
And some people just embrace it and make it work for them. "I mirror their words or phrase! I’m 30. I realized I start calling everyone sweetie cause my manager does & I work at coffee shop."