Initial Ideas:

For my photography project, I chose to look at the stimulus of 'holes.' Whilst researching this theme, I found that the definition of holes is "a place or position that needs to be filled because someone or something is no longer there" or a "hollow place in a solid body or surface." I began to think about the emptiness in which people can feel, especially those with mental health illnesses. I chose to research further into mental health problems across the world but especially within Britain and was shocked at how many people suffer in silence. I chose to use this as a theme for my work as I want to visually depict mental illness and gain depth to mine and others knowledge of the issues people face. I believe that by photographing people's experiences and creating a visual explanation of what is happening inside their heads that stigma will be reduced, I hope this will bring freedom for some people with mental illnesses as more people will understand what they are experiencing. 

Here are my initial photos taken of things that represent mental health in different ways:

This is an empty pack of sertraline, an antidepressant drug. Sertraline increases the amount of serotonin in your brain, therefore improving your symptoms of depression. However some people react badly to streamline and there are some dangerous side effects such as agitation, dizziness, fast heart beat, self harm and suicidal thoughts. 

I like this photo of a match on fire as it can be inferred to be showing the lack of control within the brain of mental health sufferers. The flame facing upwards towards the hand also connotes self harm and suggests that the subject had a sense of self-hatred.

I think the photo shows the romanticisation of mental health problems as many people don't treat disorders such as depression and anxiety serious illnesses. The use of makeup against the measuring tape shows how many people, especially girls, aim to be beautiful and to gain the acceptance of others.

This photo shows the often hidden emotions of mental health problems, the direct eye contact with the viewer also suggests that one of these hidden emotions is anger. I think the use of depth of field is effective as it focuses the viewer's attention onto the model and allows them to connect with her.

I think the lighting in the photograph is effective as it makes the model's arm look quite dead, connoting the lack of emotions some mental health sufferers show e.g. affectionless psychopaths. The plasters have suggestions of mental health however if I were to take this photo again, I would cover the model's arm in plasters to over exaggerate the symptoms.

The photo is effective as the lighting and the makeup work together to create two personalities on one face. It could be suggested that this shows personality disorders however it could also be inferred that the photo shows the outside appearance that someone who is suffering with poor mental health will often show on the left however on the right could show how they actual feel: worn out and worthless.

The bandage within this photo could suggest the stigma around mental illnesses as it is wrapped around the model's wrists, a common place where people self harm, showing that they are ashamed of themselves and their behaviour. 

This photograph works well as the lighting and the colour of the water makes the model look very pale and therefore quite ill. The model also looks as though they are drowning which could be interpreted as an act of defiance and self harm.

The use of the measuring tape is a clear indication of eating disorders such as anorexia, it shows the obsessions in which people have over the bodies. This also occurs in body dysmorphic disorder in which a person becomes obsessed with imaginary defects in their appearance. 

This photo is effective as the translucency of the liquid creates a silhouette of the model's face, making them loose their identity. This is how some mental health patients feel after they have been labelled as 'mentally ill,' they find it difficult to be seen as themselves and not their label due to stigma. 

The blue lighting in this photo is effective as connotes the overwhelming sadness that coming with many mental disorders including eating disorders which the measuring tape around the wrist connotes.

I used a long shutter speed in this photograph to show an example of OCD, the compulsion of hand washing due to the obsessive thoughts about germs. I think the long shutter speed was effective as it is timeless and so shows how someone with OCD will repeat the compulsion multiple times in a day. 

This was my mind map from mental health, I explored different mental illness and how they effect people across the globe. For example, I looked into eating disorders and found that there were different types of eating disorders and that there are some similarities but also many differences between each individual case.

This is my image board with pictures that reminded me of mental health. There are many statistics which I thought was important as it shows how many people are affected by these problems although there is still a stigma. The right-top corner also has celebrities such as Eminem and Angelina Jolie who have suffered different problems with their mental health.