How does one use their creative and artistic expression to reflect their identity? The simplistic answer is a self-portrait, it visually allows the viewer to see the artist, but it may not fully express who they are and how they see the world for that the viewer must see through the artist’s eyes. These four photographs were chosen to, through my creative process and presentation of others, explore who I am, these images display where I am from, hobbies that interest me, and how my mind sees the world and how I contemplate each choice to create these images.
Through photography, I document the rhythm of my daily life—what I see, what resonates with me, and the details that often go unnoticed. My work is rooted in family, community, nature, and material possessions, capturing the quiet beauty and significance of the everyday. Whether it’s a fleeting interaction, a familiar place, or an object rich with personal meaning, I seek to preserve moments that tell deeper stories about connection, routine, and the passage of time.
“Alleyways of the Mind” is a series of black and white photographs that explores how overlooked urban spaces reflect my experience living with ADD. Shot in the alleys of Baltimore, these images serve as metaphors for my thought patterns—tangled, nonlinear, and often hidden from view. The city’s backstreets feel familiar to me not just as physical places, but as emotional landscapes. They represent the mental clutter, the quiet moments of focus, and the feeling of being on the edge of things.
Through photography, I’ve found a way to reclaim parts of myself that don’t always feel visible in structured environments. This work fits within the HUMANIZE theme by giving voice to the complexity of identity—especially when you move through the world differently. These alleyways are not just about architecture; they are about permission. They allowed me to stop performing and start being honest about how I see, feel, and exist.
This piece is part of my self portrait series where I wanted to focus on how I view myself in a world of social media commenting on appearance and perfection. The photos are made with photoshop and lightroom, creating abstraction of the original photo. The goal of this personally was to create a interesting piece that commented on body image.
I’m Jeremiah Dammons. I’m a cinematic art major at UMBC. As a kid, I had a huge fascination with films.
As an artist, I love sharing my creativity with the people around me. In this subject matter, I gathered people from my church, where I do video work, and took pictures of them with some objects and using some camera angles that reflect my identity and who I am, and what interests me as a creative.
A collection of photos that showcase the innate beauty and mystery of people, seen in the small moments of passing them through the everyday of life. We do not know and may never know the layers upon layers of depth in each person, hence why only pieces of them are shown in the collection- S.E.E
I am a photographer who focuses on landscapes, nature, and architecture. I also occasionally experiment with portraits and mock film stills. I am drawn to the simplicity and vibrance of the buildings, scenery, and people around me. For me, photography is both an artistic pursuit and a way to remain grounded in the chaos of life. Through my work, I aim to convey a sense of peace and beauty that encourages viewers to observe and appreciate the world around them.
My name is Erin Bennett and I have been studying photography for 6 years. I have always had an interest in event photography, starting by taking photos for my high school’s band and theater productions. In recent years my focus has shifted to photographing local and touring bands in the Baltimore area. A constant theme in my work is making photography as challenging for myself as possible. Using experimental cameras and formats is also frequent in my work. My goal is to capture subjects in a respectful manner while also creating unique work beyond what is expected in photography.
My name is Alena Kowalewski and I’m an animation major and ancient studies minor at UMBC. As an artist, I am most passionate about telling stories through my work. Recently, I’ve been working on a retro-style, choose-your-own adventure game where the player is an amnesiac wizard whose choices throughout the game determine what kind of person the wizard ends up being. I want someone to come away from viewing my work, feeling like they went on an adventure alongside the main character. It’s my hope that people find themselves deeply connected to the narrative and characters within.