Pictures are never just images. They represent and signify more than just a location or a person, because we impart personal meaning onto them. We use our photographs as a means to remember something like a feeling or a strong emotion, and for artists they can even be considered an extension of themselves. Through my sustained investigation I aimed to answer one question: “What lies beyond the image present in a photograph?”
To capture the true essence of photography I decided to manipulate my pictures, revealing their meaning through different mediums of art, from painting to collaging. Personally, I struggle to leave my comfort zone of just drawing, so I used this as an opportunity to experiment with new forms of art (like mixed media for example). This series of projects forced me to try new things and revise in an effort to capture the true meaning underneath each picture. I’d often have to ponder the purpose of every picture I’ve taken for extended periods of time, and it forced me to remember the value of every picture. Through my sustained investigation I learned that photographs are chests of raw, detained emotion, and through memory these hidden feelings can be unlocked.