American Royalty (2023)
Tasked with creating a head piece in my film class, I chose to combine a staple of Black culture and European portraiture. Durags have become type of headdress over the last few decades and although it isn't religious or a physical crown, it has become a symbol of Black hair care and nurturing. I see the durag as a sign of culture. To most, it is unfortunately a sign of being "ratchet" or "ghetto". However, when someone sees an old European painting with a king or a duchess adorning the wares of their culture, then it is regal and poised. As a means of showing my perspective of the durag, I posed my subject as a painter would in a royal portrait. Not only that, but I created a headpiece reminiscent of a white wig most royals would wear. Black culture is special and it is royal in its own way.
Sometimes Floridian (May 2023)
My Lumix camera and I had a rocky relationship my freshman year of college. However, once I brought my camera on my summer vacation to St. Petersburg and Miami, my comfort with photography grew. I began liking what I was shooting. Through that growth, I felt closer to the state I call home. As a transplant from New York, the getting used to just set in. I found the beauty in Floridian hotels, beaches, and swamps.
