Charlotte Clark

Photography - BA (Hons)

I am a portrait photographer with my photographic work exploring current topics regarding mental health and how this can be visually portrayed for a better understanding of the importance of mental health conditions. I am inspired in creating images that give the opportunity to communicate topics of mental health and allowing representation to be seen and heard as mental health is sometimes disregarded.

My 3 years at ARU have helped me expand on ways to communicate visually the topics and issues of mental health. Furthermore, it allowed me to have a better understanding of how portrait photography as a whole can be used and understood. In this latest showcase, I have created a journey of my own mental wellbeing through the COVID-19 pandemic through the use of self-portraiture. I developed this using what I had learnt from the previous 3 years and exploration of current issues regarding mental health.

Hoping to carry on with portrait photography, I hope to carry on creating projects that explore the current issues regarding mental health and creating visual photographic work. I hope my work helps create a better understanding for these issues and helps change how mental health is viewed.

This body of work is exploring my journey of my battle with mental health throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, including the highs and lows. I have created this visually through self-portraiture. To symbolise vulnerability I felt during the pandemic, I placed myself in semi-nude and nude positions. Each of the images tell a different time during the pandemic, with double exposure or slow shutter speed shots demonstrating a more difficult time with my mental health and the still images symbolising the calmer times. Each image was taken in a specific room, each room having a meaning and a connection to my emotions. The images are accompanied with diary-like entries that I had created during the pandemic, using the text to help influence the final images. My aim throughout the project was to demonstrate how mental health is important, especially during the pandemic. Also, I aimed to have this project demonstrate the importance of looking after yourself and your loved ones around you.