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Why Do We Like Girls? (2017)

A sense of protection was always evident in my work. I look at my photos, examining my execution, my content, and I feel as if I’ve masked myself. By relying on aesthetics and commonly appropriated imagery, I chose a photographic style and chased it. This shows dedication to my art as a commercial artist, however this approach caused an empty feeling. As if I’m telling one side of my story. My interest was in the candid moments of my life.The confusion, anger, excitement, and love. “Why Do We Like Girls?” is a visual narrative of the journey shared between my muse and I over the course of 2 years.

Using a 35 mm Nikon fm 2, I leave the digital world of convenience and high def images. I experiment with different kinds of film, similar to how we experiment with life as young creatives tackling the world together. I look at each photograph and remember liberation in that moment.  Our vernacular journey of young love and trial speak on a facet of life, that some may be able to relate to. I composed my shots based off of decisive instinct, I create portraits of my muse, in her natural setting. Honing in on natural characteristics these photos will not be from the same vein as our other collaborations. We see Kyemah , the young , ungovernable, hard working women in her rawest moments, dealing with the stress from societies beliefs on our education, and our place as minorities . She is climbing the fashion industry and getting school work done. The narrative is set from own eye level. My personal life is not often reflected through my own lens, and I questioned myself why I felt it needed to be. It is the authentic feelings in these photographs , these moments are the reasons I like girls.

View the series here 

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