As I do not have access to any other models at the moment to photograph I decided to do a self portrait series of collages taken on a self timer setting on my camera, with hopes to document my time and feelings being quarantined. I chose to use myself only to make myself the main focus in the series and also emphasize being alone and highlight feelings of lonliness. I decided to collage and layout images together as the idea repetiton depicts how I am spending everyday the same and emphasizes boredom and repeating the same tasks daily such as reading, eating,sleeping. I chose to edit a majority of the images in black and white as this creates more minimal photographs, with somber moods and links to the melancholy  mood of  being in lockdown.

Having never done a self portrait series before, I felt it was an incredibly vulnerable experience which I think is portrayed throughout the images. It was vulnerable as I could not see myself and how I looked in the camera, the self timer allowed me little time to prepare for my photograph to be taken, therefore the images were extremely genuine, natural and intimate. Compared to how I usually take photographs on my phone it was an interesting experience to not see myself, take natural photographs with no make up and not delete any of the images I found unflattering but just embrace and capture myself in raw moments to create this series. The images were more about capturing how I was coping and feeling and not what I physcially looked like. Also taking images of my body instead of focusing on my face and features was vulnerable but shows how being isolated is allowing me more time to look and criticize my body. I am finding myself looking in mirrors more than ever but this has also allowed me to accpet myself more and challenge the idea of not being comfortable in my own skin. The images of my body captured things I often hide or feel insecure about such as beauty spots and stretch marks. I believe taking close up images of these body parts and quirks creates photographs which show empowerment and celebrates the female body. 

A lot of the images showing my face were taken to document different moods and emotions through my facial expressions. I wanted the images to show how I was feeling on different days and used other forms  of photography such as my webcam to capture this. I also used my camera to take a photograph of myself in every mirror in my household. Not only do the images show repetition, but reveal parts of my personality by showing my home in the background and the images to me show how being a home has a sense belonging and comfort. I also shot some photographs inspired by Roni Horn to capture myself throughout time. Although the images were taken seconds after eachother I think it is interesting how they each have represent different feelings  and moods behind them. 

I ended the series with a collage of old family photographs. I wanted to collage images which I feel depict the world in happier times and show images of my parents who made me and my grandparents in their youth. The self portrait series as a whole to me links to my project as they capture youth in these unpresedecented, scary times we are currently living in. Using myself as a muse shows how I think the majoirty of youth are coping, feeling and spending their days.