Photography is a sweet solace for me, if not a bit chaotic. When I get an idea, I pull out my camera and begin snapping. I live by myself so I have to rely on my camera’s self-timer, which can be frustrating.
I wouldn’t have it any other way, though. That frustration—that marriage between idea and execution—is such a fun challenge and adds to the artistic process.
I knew I wanted to do a series featuring a silver butterfly hairclip (just like the one in The Memory Jumper that my main character, Adelaide, has). To be honest, I wish the hairclip were more prominent but I was having problems getting it to be visible.
I explored several themes, each represented by an item in the photo.
PLANTS
growth
WINDOWS
Being trapped yet dreaming of more
MIRRORS
Self Reflection / Facing Ourselves / we’re our own worst enemies
What has my shadow done?
Some beautiful things
Some terrible things
I am reminded of a letter
I wrote a friend—
Beautiful.
I am reminded of
denying myself food, happiness,
Of turning the mirror around
So I wouldn’t have to see the stranger there—
Terrible.
We are all layers of shadows.
How many times have we died?
How many times have we been reborn?
Would all my shadows get along?
About this creative item’s inspiration
The Memory Jumper
To keep her mind-altering powers a secret, Adelaide lives in an underground safe house with her narcissistic mother Fawn. Together they sell her illegal Memory Jumping abilities for profit—but when Adelaide decides to break, Fawn’s grip on her life only tightens.
Amanda Michelle Brown 