Why do you create these dark and twisty self-portraits?
Do you think people are waiting to see you in almost all of your images the whole time?
What do you want with these images?
You call yourself a photographer? It's all photoshop!
Do you think people are waiting to see you in almost all of your images the whole time?
What do you want with these images?
You call yourself a photographer? It's all photoshop!
These are some of the things that I regularly hear. And they are legitimate questions.
And I'd like to tell you a little something about why I create the things I create. And why I do this in this manner.
"She must really love herself,
if all she does is photograph herself"
It's not that I am so fascinated with my being, that all I want to do is photograph myself. Although I can see that's what you think, if someone calls themselves a self-portrait-artist. That's the first thing that crosses your mind, isn't it? 'She must really love herself if all she does is photograph herself'.
But me being in the image is beyond the point.
Yes, that is the end-result of a shoot. An image where I'm the character. The actor. The storyteller. But the whole route to get to that image is what counts for me.
Conceptualizing. Translating those thoughts, those emotions, those stories, those feelings and turning them into imagery.
For me, that process, is a coping meganism.
But me being in the image is beyond the point.
Yes, that is the end-result of a shoot. An image where I'm the character. The actor. The storyteller. But the whole route to get to that image is what counts for me.
Conceptualizing. Translating those thoughts, those emotions, those stories, those feelings and turning them into imagery.
For me, that process, is a coping meganism.
"I need photography,
to cope"
What I love most about creating self-portraits is the quietness that goes with it.
I adore going on hikes by myself. Surrounding myself with nature. With nothing but the sound of the wind, the birds and the smells of the forest or the ocean. Getting lost in-between the trees and trying to be in the moment. Taking it all in.
Being alone is something that I'm very good at and need. I need to spent time by myself to recharge. Gather my thoughts and just be.
Going to a new place, with nothing but my backpack filled with my camera, tripod, a few dresses and some food and water is so comforting to me. And that experience is exactly what I love most about creating all alone.
Especially since the topics of my art are near and dear to my heart. I love to be able shut myself off from the world to create these images.
I adore going on hikes by myself. Surrounding myself with nature. With nothing but the sound of the wind, the birds and the smells of the forest or the ocean. Getting lost in-between the trees and trying to be in the moment. Taking it all in.
Being alone is something that I'm very good at and need. I need to spent time by myself to recharge. Gather my thoughts and just be.
Going to a new place, with nothing but my backpack filled with my camera, tripod, a few dresses and some food and water is so comforting to me. And that experience is exactly what I love most about creating all alone.
Especially since the topics of my art are near and dear to my heart. I love to be able shut myself off from the world to create these images.
"My art is autobiographical"
It's taken me forever to be able to talk about the fact that my art is autobiographical. Because that means it is personal. And if you acknowledge that your work is personal, that means that if people don't like it. You're very much likely to think that they don't like you as a person.
Which of course is absolutely bonkers. Because even though your art is about you. It exists through you and it may even be an extension of you. Other peoples opinions about your work, do not define you.
I repeat
(because I need to hear this message myself, as much as the next person)
"Peoples negative opinions about your work, do not define you
You define you"
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