PHOTOGRAPHY 

       Throughout the past two years, we have all become familiar with the concept of isolation. The most common and agreed-upon opinion I have heard amongst students regarding quarantine is that being stuck inside instead of hanging out with friends or partying was absolute torture. While this sentiment rings true for many, I wanted to explore the concept of staying inside through another lens in this project. To some people, the solitude of isolation brought a sense of relief and peace. In the comfort of your room, there is no need to confront the fears and unknowns of what is outside. For some, being stuck inside without social interaction felt suffocating; for others, it felt like a chance to finally breathe.

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       With the world gradually resuming its normal pace, the process of reentering society has presented itself as a difficult obstacle for people who experience anxiety and fear of judgement in social situations. Especially after becoming accustomed to the lack of random socialization during quarantine, many have found it overwhelming to be thrown back into a bustling school environment with so many unknown faces and unexpected social situations. For this project, I decided to focus on what staying inside means to people with social anxiety. In these pictures, I present a snapshot into the life of someone with social anxiety: the security of one’s room as a place to retreat to; the measures required to function socially; the detrimental physical effects of anxiety; the feelings of otherness and exclusion from the rest of society; the desire for connection and community without the means to find one.