Fenced in.
A series of self portraits.
I wanted to illustrate the dichotomy of my present emotions, but only with my surroundings. Being left at home, there was not much to use, unable to really go anywhere, I was trapped both in idea and in reality. A perfect image of my present emotion.
So I began my composition with a fence.
An empowering instrument purposed to signify separation & ownership, now but a reminder of my confinement. A perfect image of my present emotion.
Frustrated at the unfortunate reality of the pandemic, I am left struggling with the ever besmearing cacophony of my own space. I can’t separate my work, from my life. I layered the canvas by keeping all I ever need in the shot. A table, my equipment & my laptop. The same which is enabling the self portrait. I am once again in a division of self. A perfect image of my present emotion.
The light a contrast to the cloudy feeling that I often feel. The poses, a direct entendre. The tone - Sepia. Sepia was used to warm up black & white photos, to give them a nicer feel. It perfectly connected not only visually but emotionally. Hope often brings a warmth to a seeming dark image.
The final image— a culmination of singular poses, intertwined to create a plethora of things. The most prominent sight— I am but entrapped in my own self. Still fenced in.
77 days ago I decided I would do my own self portraits, and this image perfectly encapsulates my battle of waiting and progressing.
I am freed by the same instrument I feel trapped by, and in the moment, I am trapped once again by the instrument that freed me. The sky a symbol of hope. The Tilt of the fence a seeming decline. With me in the middle. A perfect image of my present emotion.
A final image showing the company I have with myself. Smothered by my own default
Why did I shoot outside in the snow? Because I was tired of waiting for the perfect day to do something about my lingering thoughts. Fun fact, I didn’t actually process the fact that I was in the snow, until I realised I was. At that point I had to run inside. Still a perfect illustration of my present emotion
Let me know your thoughts, let me know what you see and connect with 🤍
Her are the individual images, before combination.