Edward Honaker- Self Portait

    In his series of photos, Edward Honaker shows the effects of his depression and anxiety. In one of the photos, he is seen partially submerged in the water while holding a balloon. The balloon makes him look like he is young and innocent, which is a contrast to the photos' context. The contrast between the photos' context and the image of Honaker in the water is significant because it shows how he is still trying to put his past behind him and move forward with his life. The black reflection of the water also shows that he is experiencing a dark and mysterious condition.

Despite the unsettling nature of the photos, they still have some beauty in them due to the blurred and monochromatic effects. For instance, Honaker's head moves as he slowly lowers his shutter speed while his body remains stationary. He blurred his head to create a photo that would represent his mixed emotions. Another effective way of doing this is by taking a photo from an angle that is perpendicular to his face. This angle could show that he wants his audience to see him through his condition.

His body position makes him appear curious and interested in the photo. This makes it seem like he is trying to communicate with the viewer, but he can't get his message across. His crossed legs could be a metaphor for his desire to avoid getting exposed to his mental health issues. It could also suggest that he is hiding something. Anxiety is a type of fear that can affect people in a mild or severe manner. The photo could be a representation of his anxiety or other mental disorders. It could also relate to how anxious people can trigger fear in others. Most people with these conditions hide their condition in order to avoid being perceived negatively by their friends and family.

The monochromatic look also helps in heightening the emotions in his images, which are created through his experience with anxiety and depression. It is clear that he spent a lot of time trying to capture the feelings that people can experience while going through these conditions. Most of his photos show how individuals suffering from mental disorders can feel isolated and unsupported by others. His photos exhibited a theme of denial, which highlights how society typically doesn't talk about mental disorders. Honaker doesn't want to be accepted for his condition, which is similar to how people typically avoid discussing certain issues. Due to various religions and cultures, people tend to avoid discussing mental health issues. People avoid seeking treatment for their mental health conditions because they feel like they are an outcast in society. Doing so can make the depression worsen and trigger thoughts of suicide.