Volvo Turn a Car into a Photographer

For XC60 Moments, Forsman & Bodenfors gave the Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer access to a Volvo XC60, whose 'City Safety' camera can detect pedestrians, cyclists, cars and large animals.

However, rather than just stopping her from hitting a particularly large badger, she used the system to shoot a series of 30 images which are now embarking on an international exhibition tour, beginning in London.

Barbara Davidson was chosen not just because of her photography skills, which have also helped her win an Emmy and a previous position as the head photographer at the Los Angeles Times, but also because of her debt to the safety systems of Volvo cars. She explains, “I have a very personal connection with Volvo Cars. When I was a teenager I was involved in a serious road accident where the car flipped over which, in normal circumstances, would probably have proven fatal. I was told later that I had survived because of the car I had been travelling in – a Volvo”

She goes on to describe the appeal of the exhibition, the images of which were shot in Copenhagen; “The collection does two things. Firstly it is a snapshot of European city life in all its glory; secondly it also highlights the complex environments that we live in. It is thanks to the cameras and other on-board sensors that cars like the Volvo XC60 make modern city life safer for pedestrians and other road users,” said Davidson. “With this project we connect art and safety for people to see the benefits of this technology.”