As this project progresses and grows it is becoming clear what kinds of lessons come from embracing a world of, not only body positivity but, fat acceptance and elevation. If you ever have the chance to meet me, you’ll quickly notice that I am not a large person myself. I am rather average and have been afforded a lot of public grace because of that detail. So, if the attitudes in society are not quick to change, we must embrace some changes in our selves. Through these shifts in attitude, levels of self respect, and an overall better valuation of our selves the negative positions of people around in our societies stand little to gain.
I am looking forward to writing more about, specifically, certain aspects of self love. I’d like to differentiate the sides of presenting the large body as something of value and beauty and the actively parading our bodies as objects just out there to be looked at. This is a thin line to straddle as a photographer. Even more thin as someone that has an overt attraction to large bodies and is that photographer. With each image created I am asking myself what the motivations are behind them. During my session with Mike, someone that I know personally, it was important to establish that line of professionalism. What came from that was an opportunity of good collaboration with Mike. The images that were made are intimate, yes. They are also unique and dynamic. Something is achieved in making the objectification of the subject harder to do through that collaborative process. It creates space for respect and mutuality.
So here is the full gallery of images that I was able to create with Mike.
