Post reblogged from The Phoenix Project with 10 notes

the-phoenix-project:

The Phoenix Project

I will be photographing people, in South Louisiana, who have struggled with self harm. I am photographing their scars, or lack thereof in some cases. The subjects will remain anonymous, and no faces will be shown. In addition to the images, i will have each subject write a statement about what they would tell themselves at the worst point, if they had the chance. This is a very personal project, as it is something I have struggled with for a very long time. I will be including myself as a subject as well. When I first posted about this project on facebook I had over fifteen people come forward volunteering to help, by allowing me to photograph them, and that was just in the first 24 hours. I have realized that this issue is far bigger than I imagined, and too many people think they are alone in coping with it.

The discussion about self harm has always been taboo, and my goal is to change that in some way. People don’t want to talk about mental health, or self harm, it’s uncomfortable and typically not a fun conversation. That being said, it is extremely important that people who suffer from these issues realize that they are not alone. Too many people try to cope with this in silence, for fear of being judged. It is my goal with this project to create a conversation, and open the door for people who are apprehensive about seeking help. By photographing people who have beaten self harm, or are currently recovering, I hope to help erase some of the stigma associated with mental health, and perhaps even help people on the path to recovery themselves.

I am shooting with a Cannon DSLR camera, and editing the images in photoshop. I do not intend to enhance the scars in the images, or create them in any way. I do not want to give the illusion that I am promoting self harm or make any of my subjects uncomfortable. I am photographing them to the extent that they are comfortable, and portraying them in a way that does not objectify the subject.

The images I am making will be printed as large format archival prints, as well as published in a book. The statements given by each subject will be included in the book as well. I have also created a blog, where anyone can anonymously submit their own statements and images, as a secondary part of the project. The blog is intended to make the project even more accessible to those outside of my range. Obviously I can not photograph everyone, and this is a way for people to participate on their own terms, especially for those who live in other parts of the world. I would eventually like this project to be international.