Photography has always served as a beacon of light for me amidst the chaos and uncertainty of the world around me. When faced with the ever-changing reality that I would no longer be able to see my friends in person, organize photoshoots, and collaboratively create, I turned to my camera. I remembered that my camera has been with me through it all. From family vacations, graduations, to stylized photo shoots and friend hangouts, my camera always captures the stories of others. Yet, what happens when I am alone?

With the current social distancing regulations and a desire to maintain some sense of normalcy, I encouraged myself to strategize ways to produce art independently. The notorious self-portrait came to mind and I immediately became excited to share my creative light with fellow photographers. With a Photography Team spread across the country, in homes with camera equipment and some with iPhone cameras, the make-shift photo shoot encouraged both innovation and courage. Photographed with merely ourselves as the subject, director and editor, the Photography Team demonstrates the power of independence in our project, “Self-Portraits.”