Editorial
Are you what you wear?
Why am I second to the boots I wear?
Why am I second to my coat and hair?
Why am I second to the car I got?
My watch, and my jeans, and my polo top?
– Sleaford Mods | second
As I set up the lighting in my studio, I couldn’t help but think about the power of perspective. The way we see ourselves and others is often colored by the clothes we wear, the possessions we have, and the way we present ourselves to the world. The lyrics of Sleaford Mods’ “second” echoed in my mind as I prepared to shoot the red-haired woman in front of me.
Dressed in black pants and a leopard jacket, she exuded a sense of confidence and coolness that was hard to ignore. But as I began to snap photos, I played with light and shadow to create a sense of ambiguity. How much can we set aside our own perspective, knowing that we should not judge a book by its cover?
The interplay of light and shadow created a sense of mystery, as if the woman in front of me was both present and elusive. It was a captivating dichotomy, one that made me reflect on my own biases and assumptions.
As the shoot went on, the red-haired woman began to relax into her role, moving with fluidity and grace. It was a reminder that our true selves can shine through, regardless of the clothes we wear or the possessions we have.
In the end, the shoot became a meditation on the complexities of identity and the way we see ourselves and others. The power of perspective can be both liberating and limiting, but it’s up to us to set aside our biases and see each other for who we truly are.