motherhood.jpg
Motherhood
Motherhood, (2001), Digital Photograph
This photograph is about my firstborn child. When this photo was taken, I was working full time and up half the night with a very collicky baby. The paradoxical feelings of intense love and protection verses the feelings of insecurity and angst about his crying are evident in the composition of the photo. The focal point of the image is the rose, which symbolizes my son. The delicate texture of the petals and lighter value both help show how fragile and precious he is and the placement of the rose almost in the center of the composition symbolizes how the earth now revolves around him. The sharp, curved pointy lines indicate something entirely different from the gentle love perceived by the rose. How can such a negative emotion co-exist with such a beautiful child? Motherhood involves both love and torment and it is about coming to grips with both realities - even when mothers are expected to experience unadulterated joy and bonding with their children. No one ever tells you about the worry, anxiety, paranoia and fear. The sharp spikes look as if they are going to skewer the rose and add conflict to the photograph. This contrast represents frustration and tension.