vulnerable: final photography series

 

This series, which began as a project about ‘fear’ evolved into self-exploration. Taking self portraits on the campus, I made a familiar place strange and evoked the frustrating feelings I can experience. Shooting in empty hallways, corners where walls meet, and on glossy floors, I segmented my body with light and used both distorted reflections and shadows to illustrate loneliness, anxiety, and the struggle with self image. Inspired by the idea of ‘all dressed up with nowhere to go’ I created a dialogue between my attire and the lack of any sort of formal event. Although my work often has a distance with its subjects, many photos in this project required intimacy. I also played with awkward compositions to further emphasize the discomfort in my gesture and expression. Though the project is personal it can hopefully be universal; viewers can relate to its notions of self-acceptance, and ultimately, vulnerability.

 

shot on Ilford HP5, handprinted 11x14 on glossy fiber paper