Kaelynn Fonken
Before Expanding the Walls, I considered myself an artist in many fields, but photography was not one of them. I wanted to understand what it felt like to be behind the camera and ultimately believed it would not only improve my performance in front of it, but also give me a new tool to cope with the world around me. However, as time progressed, I began to realize that in order to take the photos I wanted to take I’d have to devote my energy to the camera. I had to care for my photos, put effort into the concept of my photos, and, most importantly, believe in them, too. I had to allow and accept that it is easy to discourage yourself, especially when comparing your work to that of other photographers. I prioritized considering the frame, vantage point, and background, and the actual relationship I had with the subject. The main inspiration was my dad's passing. I realized I had not captured the subtle, blissful, and small moments people tend to overlook. There is value in these interactions, something a photo can make you feel. My goal is to capture these moments with other people in my life, something I could not do with my father. I ask myself, “How can you reveal the emotions of your subject, the feelings that are rejected from a blank face?” My work is by no means perfect and at times deviates from the direction I had in mind, but I continue to work and improve the quality of my photos so one day I can call myself the photographer I strive to be.
Jungle City, 2020El Madre de mi Papa, Su Guardian, Otro Hijo, 2020