Stranger in Me

Unmasked

“To collect photographs is to collect the world”(Sontag 3). Susan Sontag, American film writer, philosopher, and teacher, connects photography to a much deeper meaning. Photography is a deeply appreciated art of mine, as I believe it tells a story. Invented in the early 1800s, photography contains no limits. Through still frame images we can capture history and reshape the way we view the world as well as ourselves. The first ever photograph was taken by Joseph Nicephore Niepce of France. The first photograph with color was taken by James Clerk Maxwell, a math physicist. Since drones weren’t invented yet, the first aerial picture was taken by hot air balloon of Boston from 2,000 feet above. We are offered a taste of history through pictures and it aids as a tool of education for generations to come (Hong).

The beauty of photography is that the photographer can create a story through the lenses of a camera. Through different angles, filters, exposures, or subjects, the options for photography are endless. As Sontag states, “photographs furnish evidence” this is the best part of photography, the truth that is present in photos. With all the technology there is to alter a photo, there will always ly a truth–– the raw image in which is first captured, pure and untethered.

In my “traditional selfie”, I have my make up on and hair done, ready to have a night out with friends. One might describe this as wearing a mask, because I put in extra effort into this selfie and it may not show my exact true colors. I wear makeup, as many people do, but it does factor into the mask I create for myself. I layer on foundation, mascara, blush, highlighter, and perfume. I am wearing a white blouse with blue flowers, to pop out my ocean blue eyes. In my self portrait, I am pictured beside my favorite pup, enjoying a sunny afternoon in my backyard. I have a messy bun thrown up, shorts and a tank on, as I’m just relaxing in the comfort of my own home. My face is pure with not a tint of makeup and I shade my eyes from the sunlight with black aviators. The fact of the matter is, not everyone is who they want to be. People wear masks in order to fit in with society and keep up with the trends. I can honestly say I try to be one hundred percent real all of the time, but it doesn’t always happen that way. Depending on the crowd I am with, I add layers upon layers to this mask, hiding my true identity. I like to present myself as carefree, relaxed, go-with-the flow type of person, but on the inside that is not always how I feel. I fill with anxiety at times and that is when I pull out the mask and try to hide in the discomfort. My chest fills and heart races, and at these times, I throw a mask on, to present myself in a way I want others to perceive me. The selfie shows a happy-go-lucky smile filled young girl who is ready to face the world. My self portrait one might argue says the same, but I show another layer in this photo, such as my love for animals. My selfie does not hide much, although, it does present a more proper image as well as displays a love for fashion.

Through simply one photo, one cannot attest to someone’s personality or sense of heart, but it can reveal ideas. An idea I share in the selfie is that I am “up with the trends” such as taking such a generic picture. The self portrait is a tad more intimate, displaying my love for dogs and the outdoors. Images can tell stories, and everyone views pictures differently, which is a great aspect of photography. Sontag says “a new sense of the notion of information has been constructed around the photographic image”(22). Society gathers ideas, follows trends, spreads awareness, and creates stories all through just one shot. Information shuttles through the lenses of a camera and whether the said photo is posted on social media, printed for memories, or just a silly snapshot, the moment in time remains forever. The information I share through my photos is somewhat little, as they do not have a great deal of content to them. However, I carry my looks and character. Mouth wide to a grin in each photo, I share happiness with a kind heart. The freckles upon my pasty white skin show my Irish culture. The mask is thin between the two photos, however they are just two captures into my life, and there is more to my story.

What is captured through the lenses is prepared, exact, and perfect, right? “Photography reinforces a nominalist view of social reality as consisting of small units of an apparently infinite number––as the number of photographs that could be taken is unlimited”(22). Sontag expresses the infinite possibilities of photography but also mentions how some pictures may reveal other truths than what is actually in the photo. A phenomenal aspect of photography is that the picture doesn’t always capture how we want it to. Now there is countless edits that can be made, ultimately changing the entirety of a photo. Sometimes we look different through various angles or filters and show sides that are not always prevalent to the public eye. Some photos are simply put just an image of flowers, where others can tell a story of generations of past to present. Sontag denotes photography back to the 1840s in France and England where cameras “had only inventors and buffs to operate them”(7). Photography has since then advanced immensely to now Iphones being accessible to candids and snapchats at any given time. In today’s society it seems to be very easy to hide behind a mask. Just plop on snapchat filters, post filters on Instagram and reveal to the world a version of yourself you want to be. What we need to do is step back and ask ourselves: is the way I appear to be on social media an actual insider to who I am as a person? In a rising society filled with competition of who is the best, who has the most followers, who is the coolest, what is most important is staying true to one’s self. I too play victim to not always showing true colors. I struggle with identity and who I want to be. I am young and at this age there are many different routes to go or masks to wear, but in the end, its I belong where my heart tells me.

The masks can be endless. It’s about when you reach the end of the day, peel off the mask, and have nothing left to give, what do you stand for? What do you fight for? The intentions we set for the day should be made aligned with our heart. No mask is needed when the heart is full and genuine. I try each day to peel a layer off the mask I wear and show my authentic self, and yes it is a challenge, but a challenge worth taking on. I thrive to be a giving, kind, and thoughtful individual. Everyone has a bad day and we are imperfect, but it is apart of the beauty of growing and learning. Sontag says “today everything exists to end in a photograph”(24). Monumental events always seem to be photographed, but what is important it the story behind the photo. Creating memories is fantastic, but if one only does something merely for the photo than it can lose the meaning of the task. Pictures can lie, and “one big happy family” is not always the case. Behind every closed door, sealed lips, and encrypted mask, lies a story, stories not ready to be revealed. The challenge is the truth. We all pretend and wear a masks to uphold a reputation. My goal is to rid of masks, reputations, rumors, anxieties, and doubt; may everyone be unmasked at some point and come to terms with their true, authentic self.

Works Cited

Sontag, Susan. “In Plato’s Cave.” On Photography, Dell Publishing, 1977, pp. 3-24.

Composition Flipped, writing101.net/flip/wp-content/resources/documents/sontag-in-

Platos-cave.pdf.

Hong, JiSun. “History of Photography.” Information Visualization, 11 Jan. 2019, http://studentwork.prattsi.org/infovis/labs/history-of-photography/.