Secret Sadness

Photo taken by contributor Quita, a teenager from England. She has experienced severe self esteem and confidence issues since she was 14-years-old, around the start of her first set of formal exams. Although she wasn’t failing her subjects, the pressure of doing well whilst also keeping up with all her friends started to overcome her and she ended up diagnosed with major depression. She thinks it’s harder to go through than many others think. She found it hard to talk to her mum about what she was feeling because she wasn’t sure herself, and it upset her mum to know Quita was going through things she couldn’t change. Quita has recently started to overcome some of her struggles with the help of her supportive boyfriend, along with photography. Taking photos has helped with her feeling of isolation, and she appreciates the freedom it gives her.

About this photo: “I call this photograph ‘Beauty Hurts.’ It was a spur of the moment image taken of my cousin Maggie after seeing a photo by Irving Penn. I felt that it captured a sort of ghostly side to her without her being obviously sad, which relates a lot to my depression and the secretive nature of it.”

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13 replies to “Secret Sadness”

  7. This image is just hauntingly beautiful. You have done a wonderful job of capturing the intended emotions. As a fellow photographer and someone who struggles with mental illness as well so impressed! Looking forward to more.

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