The images are raw and unembellished. Although the subject matter draws heavily from themes often associated with horror, I avoided sensationalism or fantasy. My process centered on two principles: intention and realism. I consistently asked myself, “If this were happening to me right now, what would it actually look like?”

Created using digital photography and presented in black and white, the series removes visual distraction to focus on the relationship between fear and lived reality. Black and white felt appropriate for a project dealing with experiences that are often stark and unambiguous. While influenced by the provocative work of Joel-Peter Witkin, I chose not to aestheticize tragedy, instead maintaining a grounded, human approach.

Like my previous portrait work, this series engages with themes of social detachment and the complexities of understanding experiences outside one’s own. The Reality of Nightmares offers a visual record of fears and nightmares that are common yet deeply personal; existing at the intersection of imagination and reality. My hope is that the work creates a space for viewers to consider unfamiliar perspectives, and in doing so, leave with a deeper sense of empathy.

Extend kindness. This is all we have.