Selfie!

Artist Statement

They say creativity is driven out of necessity, and I am living proof of this, as photography has proven to be the happiest accident of my life. Jobless and broke, I interviewed for a secretarial position at a photo studio, and soon after realizing I could earn more as a photographer, I insisted in a chance to prove my 'talent,' and landed the job. Hour after grueling hour, with some days starting at five in the morning and ending at midnight, I loved every minute of it.

Living in New York has allowed me to meet and befriend many distinctive characters, and my goal is to capture their portrait in a created fantasy world that mirrors their being. With the help of editing software, I hope to reach my goal more accurately, and impact an audience with my images. 

I am interested in exploring the idea that every mind is its own world. Every individual has their own personal battles, fears and passions, and I wish to explain each subject's 'world' through our joint efforts. 

While a still photograph can provoke a viewer to think and interpret an image, video and audio can enhance a portrait by sharing another side of the subject. Giving the face a voice, either by incorporating a spoken short story, or sharing a short 'day in the life' video, can provide a different level of intimacy with the subject, as it is something that would not have been known from a photograph alone.

Having worked as a commercial portrait photographer, I had to make my subjects comfortable quickly in hopes of getting a genuine smile and selling my images. Now I wish to investigate the possibility of a more intimate portrait, and with the help of video and audio, creating something that will better reveal a subject's essence.