
Iris Humm On Vulnerability
PROJECT: LAKE STUDY
WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY: IRIS HUMM
I started taking pictures of my father and sister without intending to make a body of work. It felt very instinctive, emotional and necessary—a way to better understand myself, my connection to them and our history. It’s interesting to see how photographs reflect the experience of a particular moment in time. I know that these images I am making of them will show me everything I need to know about us and our changing relationship.My camera has always been a therapeutic tool for me. I use it to navigate and process emotion, trauma and personal growth—both my own and of the people I am photographing. Everybody has a story, a presence, and the best work is done (both personal and not) when I am able to connect in that way, find myself in a story, which allows me to confront my own narrative with empathy and vulnerability.
It’s uncomfortable, it’s scary and it takes time, (a lesson I am still learning everyday) but I find it’s always a good idea to go deeper and to approach everything with love.
