Self - Portrait
For portrait to capture identity and self the psychological inner space in which self is held will influence the outer representation.
 |
| Self -Portrait 2014 |
I have various identities: mother, wife, daughter sister and friend. I consider myself as an individual, but part of something bigger, within the context of family and community.
 |
| Self-Portrait 2014" Me reflected" |
"The use of mirrors in self portraiture can be read as an attempt to see all sides of the self and a desire to capture something more personal than mere likeness. "
Bright, S, (2011:17). Auto Focus: The Self-Portrait in Contemporary Photography. London. Thames & Hudson.
"Me reflected" was taken on the move in my car. I shot a self portrait in this fashion to define my identity at the current time. I feel I am a photographer and a chauffeur for my kids!
There are many sides to me and in my "self portrait" i have tried to show visually different parts of my personality.
I already live a double life, since I am from Pakistani originally, living in Britain. Life has been a balancing act to live, study and work in Britain. Preserving cultural identity as an immigrant has been difficult and bits of heritage have been lost only in one generation due to practicalities such as cultural dress.
As I have developed and grown, and had my own children the language that glued my mother and hence my cultural heritage has also been lost, since my daughter has not learnt the mother tongue.
I love the work of Zineb Sedira Bright, S, (2011:36). Auto Focus: The Self-Portrait in Contemporary Photography. London. Thames & Hudson.
She has looked at the ideas of origin and shifting sites of identity. Her work relates to my own relationship with identity.
My identity changes as i grow, i develop, mature, gain knowledge to become a new me.
Below are a few photographs at various stages of my life that have lead me to become the person i am today.
 |
| My First Passport Photograph |
 |
| My First School Photo |
 |
| My Graduation |
 |
| Move to Manchester with Kids |
These images over time have shaped my identity. "A person's identity is their sense of self and the different contexts within which that self-hood is constructed it is never simple or coherent, nor is it stable as people, attitudes and understandings change over time in response to events and experiences."
Wells, L, (2011:347). Photography A Critical Introduction Fourth Edition. Routledge London, New York.
