This image was taken in the Black Box studio. For this photo, I turned off all lights and only used my phone’s flashlight as a light source. The intention was to get a dramatic effect on the figure, leaving the back profile in shadow and blurred. By doing this, I hoped to emphasize the contrast between the parts of the identity that are visible (the front-facing part) and the parts we keep hidden (the back profile).

One of the strengths I find in this image is the dramatic effect created by the minimal lighting. The flashlight provided just enough illumination to define the front of the subject’s face, while the back profile remained blurred and lost in the shadows. This created a sense of mystery, as the concealed identity is not fully revealed. The blurred back profile in the mirror is particularly effective because it adds a layer of abstraction, allowing the viewer to focus more on the hidden nature of identity rather than on sharp, clear features. The subject’s reflection, distorted and blurred, communicates the idea that some parts of ourselves are not easily seen, even by ourselves, and are often kept in the dark.

However, there were some challenges with this lighting technique. The phone’s flashlight was small and uneven, which resulted in harsh shadows on the person’s face and created areas where the light did not fully illuminate important features. As a result, parts of the face were either overexposed or seemed merged into the black background. The back profile, while it was intentionally blurred, could have been more defined to add depth and reinforce the contrast between the visible and concealed aspects of the identity. The lack of detail in the shadowed part of the image made the contrast between light and dark feel a bit too subtle.

One thing I learned from this photo was that lighting, even when minimal, needs to be carefully controlled to achieve the dramatic effect. The phone’s flashlight worked to create the mood I was after, but it didn’t provide enough even light to fully define the subject, or work to cover only half of the face.