the depressing phase.
While brainstorming ideas for this project, I was going through a 'depressing' phase. I came to realize that things in life do not always go the way I want them to. Meanwhile, I thought of creating a theme of 'how to embrace yourself when you are sad.' Everyone has different ways of coping. Some people might cry in their room for days until they feel better, others might go out and get wasted, and some might use sarcasm until they can't stand it. I invited two friends to see how they deal with emotions and sadness.
I feel so honored that I got a chance to experience working in a darkroom, developing black and white film. I took the photos, developed them, and printed them. The process is actually a pain in the as* yet also very healing. I’ve come to learn that once you fu*ked up, there's no second chance to re-do the B&W film. You have to accept the fact and consider how to remedy it. I actually really enjoy to look at my finished products.
I printed my prints with more contrast and darker graininess, symbolizing their nostalgic emotion. This is interpreted as an exploration of human emotion and expression, indicating the nuanced range of feelings I, or a person, can experience.
The photos have a very candid and intimate feel to me. The absence and contrast of color emphasize the emotional content of the images. The expressions on the faces of both Amos and Glen range from contemplative and serene to more intense and emotive. Whenever I look back at the photos, these varying expressions and the close-up nature give me a personal insight into the subjects’ experiences or states of mind.
