Joseph battled ADD (attention deficit disorder) and dyslexia for much of his life, photography was a way for him to describe unease in the world and give visibility to depression and trauma more naturally than words. Joseph presents this through multiple projects, whether it's unpacking and recovering from the end of a marriage, learning to understand and love oneself through doubling self-portraits, or using Instagram's face morph feature to reflect dysmorphia. For Traina these many ongoing projects are "a way for me to have control in a life where I sometimes feel like I have no control."One of my personal favourites of Joseph has to be Lost In Seattle. I find Lost In Seattle is a great inspiration for my workings due to this project of his reflecting well with the conversations I have had with my mother as the explanations behind Triana's images relates towards my mothers feeling fittingly. The cover image of Traina's recent book, Lost In Seattle explains the basis of the photo-book perfectly. Other images capture Seattle's changing landscape as a symbol of Traina's unease in the world. Photos of trees swathed in protective bug nets share space with interior shots of window drapes sagging like weeping willows this could suggest an feeling of entrapment and isolation. Many of the images in Lost in Seattle are part of the his ongoing series Be Gentle with Yourself, in which Traina juxtaposes doubled self-portraits with altered images from their childhood to better understand the root of it all and learn to implement methods of self-care. "During this time in my therapy," says Traina, "I learned to listen to what my inner child needed, to cultivate a safe space to grow, a place to be visible,” this shows us that Joseph used the camera to represent how he was feeling, which I too aim to achieve. Many of these portraits were created during Traina's lowest points and now are a means to help him step back, self-reflect, and process it all. "I'm my own biggest enemy," Traina says. "I joke sometimes that no one hates me more than I hate myself. It's strangely comforting, being the best at hating myself. I'm working on it. I'm finding ways to love, and to feel loved." Reading this myself I relate and after sharing with my mum she did too, I aim to produce images that create this feeling and allow other to reflect upon this and perhaps relate too.

I enjoy this image as the edited double exposure presents a younger and present image of Joseph. This relates to a comment Traina has made, "I learned to listen to what my inner child needed, to cultivate a safe space to grow, a place to be visible,”

I also enjoy the double exposure used here as it could suggest childhood trauma was the start of further issues. The blue contrast of the photo suggests this melancholy feel from the image. The double exposure also suggests there are parts of you people who are not aware of such as mental health and family life.

Traina sits on a plastic-covered mattress looking away from the camera, face spotlighted in natural, Hopper-esque light, waiting for something to change, with no end in sight.The layout of this image is capturing and meaningful as a front cover, as the sheet covering the bed suggests this sense of entrapment. The man looking away from the camera can signify his ignorance to this situation and not wanting to confront it perhaps. 

This photograph is captivating as the reflection from the window suggests this emptiness of the room and maybe the loneliness of the people inside.The tangled wires in the bottom corner can represent this confusion and messy mindset. As well as the darkness in the room suggesting the unknown.

The net around the tree goes on to show this repetition of entrapment, however the little branches pushing through the net juxtaposes this. The branches pushing through the net and the over grown branches surrounding the tree suggests this sense of growth.

The sheets/curtains in this image signify this sense of privacy, however the window opened a jar and the curtains not fully closed goes against this. I enjoy the way this image is composed as I like this warm light inside of the room this could suggest the preference of being at home and the way it may feel a safe place to many people. 

I enjoy the way this image has been captured and I believe there are many great components to it. The girded fence wall suggests this sense of imprisonment and division, as well as a challenging obstacle or obstruction. The two screws hanging out at the top of the fence suggest this lack of security. The fog behind the fence represents mystery  which links in with confusion and a blurring between reality and unreality. The dark outlines of the towering trees in the fog behind the fence suggest the unknown as well as life and growth.

The tree surrounding and towering the building can suggest the stress of daily life (the building) and the need for freedom and take a breath (the tree.) The clear skies in the background connote transparency and the lack of dullness. The tree over towering the building behind it creates this sense of allusion and attempt for the building to be seen as hidden.