honorable mention
Karen Sebire new zealand
title
The Emotions of Covid
The editing of the images is deliberately heavy handed to enlarge the eyes as windows to the soul. I have through my facial expressions and posing tried to amplify the emotions of loss, grief, sadness, and hopelessness which I have found override the inner feelings of frustration, anger and panic at the complete lack of control individuals have in this pandemic as governments step in and make heavy handed decisions that have affected people world wide in horrendous ways.
I think this project is likely still a work in progress. The situation is still unfolding and I am keen to continue documenting my personal emotive journey as with time the recollection of how hurt you were or broken something left you feeling is lost and it feels like capturing the level of despair I felt is important for future generations.
Many people have reached out having seen my work to thank me for capturing exactly how they are feeling. There is comfort in knowing I am not alone.
The camera slowed me down and made me wake up to the world around me. I saw shadows and light, details and drama and while it slowed me down the camera kept me company as well. I didn't know that the camera purchase would become such a passionate love affair with the world around me.
My interests are constantly shifting with my focus and interesting now moving in the direction of creative storytelling and using camera, costumes, makeup and lighting to examine emotions, feelings, current affairs and the inner thoughts that cause us to feel a particular way.
We are living in incredibly turbulent and uncertain times and being able to capture, analyse and document why I am full of grief, despair, anxiety, concern for my kids and their future has for the moment become my passion project. So many things are occurring to me and I know that this current passion will naturally morph into a new fascination and I am really a passenger to my mind and its unfolding rambling direction.
I think creativity is a muscle and must be practiced with regularity. The more you do it the easier it becomes and forcing it isn't an option. It is good to try ideas and fail because there is so much learning in the journey. Focusing only on the destination would be a critical mistake.
I am excited to continue on my road.
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entry description
This was a mini project that I embarked on over the Christmas/New Year period as I was in a period of deep despair. My daughter had birthed my grandson and due to the closed borders I was not able to leave New Zealand to support my daughter. I haven't seen my granddaughter in 2 1/2 years with absolutely no sign of the situation letting up and in fact the New Zealand Government with its elimination policy becoming more tyrannical and restrictive as time goes on while the rest of the world opens up. I felt a deeper sadness and grief than I had ever experienced so decided to try and explore those emotions using special effects makeup and the camera to capture those feelings as self portraits.The editing of the images is deliberately heavy handed to enlarge the eyes as windows to the soul. I have through my facial expressions and posing tried to amplify the emotions of loss, grief, sadness, and hopelessness which I have found override the inner feelings of frustration, anger and panic at the complete lack of control individuals have in this pandemic as governments step in and make heavy handed decisions that have affected people world wide in horrendous ways.
I think this project is likely still a work in progress. The situation is still unfolding and I am keen to continue documenting my personal emotive journey as with time the recollection of how hurt you were or broken something left you feeling is lost and it feels like capturing the level of despair I felt is important for future generations.
Many people have reached out having seen my work to thank me for capturing exactly how they are feeling. There is comfort in knowing I am not alone.
about the photographer
I picked up a camera to manage my mental health journey positively and without drugs. My job had me on the road 40+ weeks a year so I was completely disconnected with my friends and family.The camera slowed me down and made me wake up to the world around me. I saw shadows and light, details and drama and while it slowed me down the camera kept me company as well. I didn't know that the camera purchase would become such a passionate love affair with the world around me.
My interests are constantly shifting with my focus and interesting now moving in the direction of creative storytelling and using camera, costumes, makeup and lighting to examine emotions, feelings, current affairs and the inner thoughts that cause us to feel a particular way.
We are living in incredibly turbulent and uncertain times and being able to capture, analyse and document why I am full of grief, despair, anxiety, concern for my kids and their future has for the moment become my passion project. So many things are occurring to me and I know that this current passion will naturally morph into a new fascination and I am really a passenger to my mind and its unfolding rambling direction.
I think creativity is a muscle and must be practiced with regularity. The more you do it the easier it becomes and forcing it isn't an option. It is good to try ideas and fail because there is so much learning in the journey. Focusing only on the destination would be a critical mistake.
I am excited to continue on my road.
back to gallery