This photo shoot was created during the final of a photography history class which taught about the pioneers who began various industries of photography. I studied portraiture to learn how to frame myself as the subject with a contemporary feel. As I’ve experimented with my own identity and created identities for brands through graphic design work, Claude Cahun has been a beacon for me. They were a queer surrealist photographer, poet, and worked in avant garde theatre. Claude challenged gender stereotypes and was one of the first to embrace gender fluidity. What I liked and respected about Claude is that they stood up and stood out for their beliefs and never let anything stop them from being themselves. I want to express to the viewer that identity is ever-changing in time through appearance, age, interests, opportunities and experiences, so it’s important to always be yourself and stand up for yourself no matter what society’s social constructs say.
