Thesis Project (2025-2026)

This project is very important to me. The genre of this project is a mix between personal and expressive work. I am focusing on a topic that I have personal experience with: mental health, suicide, and self-harm. This is a topic that is often glamorized in the public eye, specifically in film and photography. My project is inspired by my own experiences as well as the work of other photographers. I also plan to draw inspiration from the look and feel of the horror genre.

The main photographers I will take inspiration from are Francesca Woodman, Kevin Carter, Melanie Pullen, Nan Goldin, Kristina Knipe, and Diane Arbus. When looking at other photographers’ work, we often see black-and-white images with models styled with makeup and done hair. Although this is a very sensitive and often triggering subject, many of the photographers I look at add a glamorized element to their work. Photographers like Laura Hospes, for example, do a great job with detail shots—getting in close and showing viewers the reality of depression. I also really love how Diane Arbus shows faces and captures emotion. In terms of color, I want to take inspiration from Kristina Knipe.

If I were to place my project into John Szarkowski’s “mirrors or windows” framework, it would belong in the mirrors category. A large part of this project is showing what my own experience has been. I will focus only on self-portraits and other detail shots of myself. The content of this project will deal with self-harm, mental health, and suicide. These subjects will appear both metaphorically and literally, showing what it feels like to live with the weight of depression and mental illness. I plan to use studio lighting, locations in my own home, and a studio setup. I will also learn special effects makeup to create scars and other aspects of suicide and self-harm. For materials, I mainly want to use my own body and objects I already own. I may also incorporate clothing and other items that have been significant in my journey. This project will mostly be digital, and I want to print my final images large, though I am not sure of the size yet. An alternative is thrifting old frames and printing based on the sizes of the frames I find.

Image (MY INSPIRATION )

My process will be very raw in terms of shooting, but when it comes to editing, I want to take inspiration from the color palettes of horror movies—dark and cool tones. The shoots will mostly be in my home or in the studio, all done with controlled lighting. I want the lighting to be artificial so that the photos maintain unity and a consistent look throughout. I plan to spotlight the subject, leaving the rest darker. Since I will only be photographing myself, I do not need model releases or permission from others.

This project will also require a lot of research. I have already done extensive artist research, as well as looking into how mental health affects the brain and how this connects to suicide and self-harm. I also have journals I’ve kept for years that highlight my lowest times, and I may include parts of these in my work. I might integrate some of my writing into the final installation, possibly framed alongside my prints. I envision a gallery wall with the writing in the center and the photos surrounding it. I do know that I want every aspect of the final piece framed, since frames highlight my style as an artist and create cohesion and uniqueness. The first step I’ve taken is artist research—studying other artists who focus on similar subject matter and comparing their style to mine. I’m looking at what I want to draw inspiration from and what I want to avoid. The biggest thing this research helps with is understanding how other artists glamorize the subject and how I want to move away from that to make my work more real and true to my style.

For my first work-in-progress critique, I want to have a few photos shot and printed small so I can test whether they work or not. My biggest concern with this project is its effect and impact on people. This project means a lot to me, and I assume it will also affect others who view it. Because of this, I worry about the pressure it carries and about how it will make people feel.

I want to show the real aspects of my experience, but I also want to respect everyone who has dealt with these challenges in their own lives. I am very excited to begin this project, and I look forward to each day I take another step toward making it stronger. I also believe that this project will be very healing for me. I feel it will help me process my past and move toward a better and happier stage of my life, while acknowledging that there will always be challenges.