We are used to photos of women, faces pouting, smiling, glowing. That’s what we always tell our kids to do: “Smile for the camera, little one.”
But life is not always rainbows and unicorns. Humans have another side to them—the one the pillow sees more often than people do.
We’re always comfortable when we watch someone laugh. Show us a photo of someone serious, and we’re quick to joke about what they’ve got stuffed up their orifices. We never tell anyone to stop laughing. But as soon as the waterworks start, the world’s first response? Stop.
Why is it okay to only be positive and project happiness? Why is it acceptable to avoid social media if you can’t force a smile? Why should anyone hide from the spectrum of emotions a human is capable of feeling?
Broken-hearted. Hurting. Enraged. Betrayed. Regretful. We’ve all been there—at one point or another. And the only way we’re allowed to do it is alone. Drown alone. Cope alone. Handle it however you want, but alone.
Inspired by heartbreaks I’ve lived through. Quotations from books I’ve read. Facebook prophets. Failures I’ve overcome. Even lyrics.
“She” is a glimpse of a woman at her lowest—a woman coming to terms. A broken girl becoming a tough bitch.
She’s an eagle when she flies, yes. But this project is inspired by another line from the same Dolly Parton song.
This is the photographic version of “She’s a sparrow when she’s broken.”