The Smoke we Hide Behind

When thinking of smoke, a wide variety of concepts might come to mind. Some might imagine a white ghost hovering above a peaceful campfire, others might see clouds puffed from a cigarette, and still others might picture smog spiraling above a coal power plant. But, for me, smoke has come to represent a concealing force. And while many face the challenge of self-acceptance, the real smoke in today's society is the digital editing and fabricated modification we use to cover up the imperfections we find in ourselves. True self-acceptance, however, transcends this concealment.

Although I hope to capture that true sense of self-acceptance in my images, I ultimately hope that viewers can find a little acceptance in themselves.