“Identification, that’s how it starts. And ends with being rounded up, experimented on and elimnated.”
–The Argonauts by Maggie Nelson
The person that I am today is shaped through my life experiences, the people I chose to surround myself with, my trials and tribulations and what fills my daily lifestyle. My photo essay discusses the process of the publication of my identity. I had found it difficult to outwardly express who I am, although I know what my interests are, I am proud of my culture and my childhood. For the first month of my independent experience in New York I archived every single expense, I found it intriguing to look back at who I was, what I was doing in these specific moments. In some way I believe these slips of paper capture me in a moment throughout a dynamic shift in my life. The use of receipts communicates this idea of capitalism and the photos overall carry a melancholic tone, but if the audience looks closer, I believe my emotions can be communicated through the specific items that were purchased in my first month as an independent in New York City.
I utilized the camera as a tool to contain the person that I was in a moment in time. I used a white backdrop and natural lighting to communicate the idea of a fresh beginning, the chaotic placement parallels with the commotion of my new residence. The groceries, the coffee order, the checks deposited, the books that were purchased may be used to illustrate my inner thoughts and define my identity. There is an organized mess in the photos and I chose to show receipts with purchases that may have communicated the person I was at that moment, I also presented the receipts with the most interesting stains or crinkles to strengthen the composition,
SHIFT:
Throughout the process of constructing this photo essay, I did find it difficult to capture specific shots that identify my own complexity. I originally intended for the photos to be literal self portraits in settings that identified me. I shifted my direction and wanted to capture an abstract series that was fluid yet concrete. The positioning of the receipts depict a pile of mess, yet I chose to control what receipts the audience was able to read.
If I were to develop this project further, I would have liked to use photo shop and alter the words on the receipts to create a personable message. Exploring how to include colors and complex shadows would create a stronger series of images.
