To live a fulfilling life, one must experience all sorts of emotions and feelings. Life is never a static plane of existence; rather, it’s a collective sum of a variety of experiences, all for better and worse. We’ve all heard that we need to experience the rain in order to appreciate the sunshine, but life is more complicated than that black-and-white adage.
So, aside from the sunny days and blissful sunsets, there are times when darker, more gritty and true-to-life emotions will seep into my photography. Here are some photographs I’ve taken lately which I feel hint at some of the more complex and interesting experiences of the human condition. Some are dreamy, some are nitty-gritty, and others are downright creepy, but all of which are part of true life.
This person can be any one of us. Is she about to head into hard times? Is she just recovering from them? Either way, though faced with some harsh and treacherous conditions, she’s facing them head-on with confidence and self-assurance.
Is this uphill or downhill? Does it really matter? What awaits along the path you choose? Do you even have a choice?
Fear is a real thing. How do you react when faced with fear? Do you turn and run? Is it always so easy to face your fears? What is it that’s so unsettling about an eerie scene? What about the dark? Even as an adult, there’s still a hint of fear of the dark when completely isolated and alone.
“All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream.” – Edgar Allen Poe.
“Happiness is only real when shared.” – Jon Krakauer (Into The Wild). Every face, every hand, every motion blur, and every shadow adds a new layer to the overwhelming amount of emotions conveyed within this image. All that I know is that the plethora of feelings and emotions here are shared, and that’s the most beautiful part of this image.
There’s a true beauty within darkness if you’re only willing to open your eyes and fully embrace all it has to offer.
“Every living creature on Earth dies alone.” Grandma Death (Donnie Darko). What do you do when you get to the end of your line? Do you turn back? Can you ever really go back to the way it was before once you’re at the end of your rope? When you get to the end, are you really all alone? What comes after?
Austin Martinez Photography 