The Resilience Theory
I first decided to pursue photography in 2011. I always thought being a great photographer consisted of getting a "good shot" and having versatility. However, as my career went on, my perspective for what photography meant to me change drastically.
I have an opening question for anyone who decided to picked up a camera "What is your current motivation behind the camera?" At one point, I wanted to be the best, the most original, the most prolific, and the most prestigious. I couldn't enjoy the work because that alone was my main motivation for creating. I took a pause , and did a re-evaluation of why I choose photography.
I choose photography to witness and capture the stories of others. To tell my own tale. As life changes day by day, my life assignment is to preserve, and display moments in time/history. Or maybe, it is that photography chose me rather than me choosing it.
This photo series that has Ymani as my main subject is the culimation of our interests and your separate journeys coming together to illstrate what we are to this life as opposed to other telling us what our space is. Our intent was to be led by something more of a feeling, flow, and direction on this gloomy day in LA. But after the shoot, Ymani and I talked about Tibetan Monks and their ability to transcend at will. We chimed over the anime "Serial Experiments Lain", which is an existential theory anime based on the concept of life, and other spiritual practices that we shared amongst each other to strengthen self. It makes me ponder the question if life knows that it is living? Does life itself know it is taking space in the streamlining of time?
This body of work gives life to the phrase "The body exists to verify its own existence." If we are all connected then this session is just the verification of self through other entities via divine timing and temporal space coming into one in this reality. We are all connected according to the red string threory concept and these moments should be captured, cherished and highlighted.
I am lucky to do all three in this lifetime.
Photography by Akeem Brandon
Subject:
Ymani Barbee