“These past few weeks have been very fun. I learned how to use a camera, I’ve been introduced to the basics of photography and photoshop, and I've even begun to play with lighting.

Through photography I would like to explore themes such as my identity, my insecurities, emotions, and life. I already use drawing and painting to explore these themes and now I’m excited to use photography too. I noticed that the dark colors I use in my drawings seem to have made their way into the pictures I take in the form of high contrast and heavy shadows. I’m aware that developing an art style takes time but these are features that I believe will eventually become a part of my style.”

My name is Brenda and I am eighteen years old.

Before this program, I mainly worked with traditional mediums to create art, they’re the ones I have most practice with and the ones I feel more comfortable using. Photography was very different to what I was doing, and it was also very out of the blue. I’m proud that I was able to step out of my comfort zone and learn a new art medium, especially one that I found intimidating.

There’s a subject that I did not expect I would enjoy taking pictures of. I dislike appearing in pictures and having my picture taken. So it was interesting to me to find myself enjoying these last few self-portrait assignments. It was uncomfortable to do during the first session but by this last one I had more fun with it and I somehow felt more confident. The theme for my independent study was around “Memories, light and reflection”. I picked my theme after being done with the picture taking and editing process. I found out that although I am intentional in the pictures I take, they gain a deeper meaning once I've sat down to reflect on them.

With these pictures I’m letting you all a bit into my head. In these pictures I am reflecting about who I am, about who I was in the past, and what I hold dearest to me. I feel like I only touched the surface of this theme with these pictures so I will definitely explore it more.

With the experience I got from this program and with my new portfolio, I plan on looking for more photography opportunities. I want to use this summer to practice photography and have fun with art before I get busy with university.