General Entry - Emerging Talent Awards

This is a sampling from a large five-year abstract photography project from 2010-2014 called, “Despite the Pain.” Two abstract photos are featured from each series and represent 2 out of 3 subgroups for each collection (see below for titles). This 5 year collection began after a period of total isolation for 3 years due to disabling chronic pain which started in 1998. After losing health insurance in the U.S, as well as a marriage and career. I moved to India to be treated for Daily Chronic Migraines and Headaches, Transverse Myelitis and other pain syndromes. I was living in a prison-like dark room unable to emerge for years and was also hospitalized for a total of 7 months. After some improvement, I finally came out of this cocooned state and was able to see the world with fresh eyes. My thoughts were on moving forward, transforming this dark period in alignment with what I saw; a world that seemed miraculous in the play of light and shadow, color and movement. I could not do normal photography anymore. My journey with this series of abstracts reflects my path, but also takes inspiration from two other paths. The first being that of the Monarch butterfly from cocooned (New Papillon Series 2010) migration (Migration Series 2011), mating (Union Series 2012), conception (Conception Series 2013) and offspring (Creation Series 2014). The second mirrors the evolution of the universe from it’s seed state of repose to the early chaos and finally to the life forming creations. Both journeys declare the successful story of creation despite the intensity of the journey. 1. New Papillon Series subgroups: cocooned, emergence and culmination stage. 2. Migration Series subgroups: stirrings, evolution and terrain stages. 3. Union Series subgroups: co-creation, forging and emergent stages. 4. Conception Series subgroups: conception, incubation, creation stages. 5. Creation Series subgroups: muddy stream, water, mountains/bushes & trees/dirt