Before You There Was Me

Before You There Was Me is a photographic work exploring perception, memory, and healing within a familial relationship. The series combines abandoned spaces, natural landscapes, and portraiture to examine how we interpret both place and self over time.

Throughout the work, I capture broken or overlooked environments in a softened, almost romantic light. By using crystal and cellophane to obstruct the lens, these spaces are transformed—what first appears beautiful gradually reveals itself as desolate or neglected. This tension invites viewers to reconsider what is deemed worthy of attention, reflecting the complexities of healing and perception.

In contrast, the nature-based images are more heavily distorted through these same materials, creating a visual language that mimics memory—fragmented, shifting, and uncertain. These altered landscapes encourage the viewer to question the reliability of what they see.

Portraiture of my sister and me is woven throughout the series, similarly obscured. By removing clear identifiers, these figures become fluid rather than fixed, allowing identity to shift alongside memory and narrative. This malleability is central to the work, reinforcing the evolving nature of self and relationships over time.