
Photo taken by first-time contributor Kait Mauro, a 21-year-old Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania native who has lived all over the country. She is trying to see all 50 states and has been to 38 so far. Kait has a diagnosis of major depression, severe and recurrent, as well as having experienced anxiety and disordered eating during her teenage years. She is currently an undergraduate at Washington University in Saint Louis where she studies Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies and Creative Writing. Her primary mediums are poetry and photography, though she has also been known to dabble in printmaking and other genres of writing. She seeks to understand her experiences and to connect with others through her art. Her photography can be seen at www.kaitmauro.com or nowandnowandnow.wordpress.com.
About this photo: “I conceptualized this photograph after falling in love with Mary Oliver’s poem, Sleeping in the Forest, and went to the Black Madonna Shrine, near Saint Louis, hoping to find a setting in which I could shoot it. It was fun and sort of liberating to get naked in the woods alone, and pulled me out of the funk I had been in, even if only briefly. Somehow the exhibitionism of taking it put me in a better place. I used a fallen down tree in place of a tripod, to hold my camera.”
_____
**Visit Broken Light’s main gallery here. Currently accepting submissions.
*Facebook & Twitter @BrokenLighCo & @DanielleHark. Follow for e-mail notifications.

stunning photo and I’m sure it is perfect for the poem. You should frame the photo alongside the poem for display or in a journal.
LikeLike
sehr schoenes natuehrliches foto sleeping in the forest es ist sehr sehr natur verbunden liebe gruesse von jasmin damaro
LikeLike
Yes artistically explained with poem
LikeLike
I’m honored to one of my photographs has found a home in this space. Such a cool website, thank you folks for creating this community I’ve so happily stumbled upon.
Kait
kaitmauro.com / nowandnowandnow.wordpress.com
LikeLike
Actually, I think the space should be honored to have your photo in it . . .
LikeLike
What a great shot! You look both safe and vulnerable at the same time. Well done!
LikeLike
This is a fabulous self portrait. The imagery is wonderful.
LikeLike
You really connected with me . . . thanks . .
LikeLike
Hmmmm…..!
LikeLike
Very brave. I do not have your courage, but I admire it.
LikeLike
This is so beautiful and brave. I’ve been doing self portrait work for awhile. I find it to be really liberating but I don’t have the courage (yet!) to do something like this. Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful shot
LikeLike
Great photo! Creative and refreshing. Thanks for sharing this lovely image.
LikeLike
Your presence on my blog led me here. And I am stupefied to see this post.
It’s a revelation to oneself.. it’s like seeing yourself reflected truly!
LikeLike