Confined – A Digital Photography Series

This project was born out of my fascination with the strange, the grotesque, and the emotionally uncomfortable. In my photography, I rarely aim for beauty in the traditional sense. Instead, I’m drawn to what unsettles; what lingers, disturbs, and provokes a deeper emotional reaction.

The central theme of this work is confinement, both physical and psychological. Using saran wrap as a visual and literal barrier, I placed my model in a restrictive environment where discomfort wasn’t staged, but real. The material clings, suffocates, and reflects, creating a distorted surface that parallels the constraints many people feel under societal expectations. While the wrap may glitter under the lights, its shimmer hides something darker: a loss of autonomy, a silencing of individuality.

This concept resonated deeply with both myself and those who helped bring it to life. We were collectively motivated to communicate what it feels like to be trapped in a performative role, forced to mask discomfort for the sake of others. The red lighting underscored the intensity of these themes, amplifying both the emotional and visceral qualities of the imagery. Achieving the right balance between the red light and softbox was technically demanding, it required constant adjustments to prevent the subject from becoming washed out or visually consumed by the background.

Interestingly, some viewers interpreted the series through a horror lens, drawing comparisons to Saw, Dexter, and other psychological thrillers. That wasn’t unintentional. I’m deeply curious about the relationship between trauma, fear, and how horror aesthetics can be used to express real emotional pain. There’s something compelling about the theatricality of fear, how suffering can be staged, watched, and even consumed.

The decision to incorporate a curtain-like background emerged organically. Originally, I wanted a clean, texture-less backdrop, but it proved difficult to achieve. Eventually, I embraced the stage-like quality of the curtain, realizing it added a layer of meaning: the idea of a person performing their own suffering for an audience’s consumption. It reminded me of a jester, trapped in a role, confined for others’ entertainment, their humanity overlooked.

While this project pushed me creatively and technically, I’m proud of the result. It challenges viewers to sit with discomfort and reflect on the structures that bind us. I hope it provokes not just a reaction, but introspection.

Morgan Brandt, 2024