Regrounded is a medium format photography series that explores my effort to recenter myself in the midst of a stressful and emotional time in my life. As the anxiety and mental fatigue of constant work caught up to me, I found myself longing for a sense of peace and stability. Through this, I gravitated towards spaces that have long provided me with a sense of safety.
The series focuses on five safe spaces:
The desert
My partner
The water
My friends
“Samantha’s tree” – a tree named by my grandfather that I like to think thrives because my late dog is buried underneath.
With an unexpected split from my longtime partner midway though working on this series. The concept of impermanence within my safe spaces became increasingly hard to ignore. What began as a search for grounding evolved into a confrontation of what “safe spaces” truly mean to me. For a second, the spaces that once brought me comfort, felt like painful reminders of a version of life that no longer existed. But, through the continuation of this series, I began to reflect on what these spaces truly represented. Although literal representations of my safe spaces, each image also becomes a metaphor for the feeling and essence of comfort and safety.
Regrounded, as it is now, is not simply an attempt to reconnect with spaces I love. It is a reminder that as life changes, I can always return to these spaces not just physically but also within myself as a way to stay grounded.
May, 2025
