he comfort of nostalgia and childlike imagination are major themes running throughout my work. Whimsical, quirky, and poignant are words that describe my photographs. I visually portray my memories of childhood using my fears, anxieties, and dreams as the basis for conceptual meaning. Photography is a cathartic experience for me. Creating lighthearted imagery of magic, exploration, and innocence provides an escape from the stressful and constantly changing nature of adulthood.
am highly involved in all aspects of the creative process, from meticulous planning and sketching out ideas to utilizing myself as the model. My images portray some of my biggest concerns. Because of this, self-portraiture feels like a natural way to become completely enveloped in my work. I am a perfectionist at heart and posing in my photographs not only permits full control of the visual content, but also presents a way for me to play pretend. Children assume the roles of different characters all of the time. However, as people age they often forget what it is like to pretend to be their own superheroes and feel like they can conquer anything. By trying on different characters, I can play out in photographs how I would face my fears in different scenarios.
y vulnerability provides a feeling of honesty and sincerity. I enjoy storytelling through photographs because of their inherent illusion of truth. The genuine nature of photographs adds an element of credibility to the absurd and surreal events that occur in my stories. Post-production, manipulation, and compositing play a large role in my method of creating images. My crafted, constructed approach to compositing emulates the way a child learns through building and creating.
aking photographs is a constant learning experience. With each completed project I learn new ways to portray my imagination and new methods of storytelling. When I allow myself to accept successes and learn from failures I grow as an artist and learn more about myself in the process.
Stephanie Besse