More Portraits of Agoraphobia
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- phoehne
- Ravenlea
- rainne
- Ravenlea
- bellspirit
- Ravenlea
- dianne50
- Ravenlea
- dianne50
- Ravenlea
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» phoehne - Picture response
Corinne, you asked for our responses to the photos in this article. I am not truly an agoraphobic, but feel some of the same feelings, and they become stronger with each passing year. More and more I choose not to leave my home unless I have to.I have probably blown any meaning in these pictures way out of proportions, but they are my reactions. The first was felt the most strongly and was instantaneous. I didn’t need to see the bigger picture to feel it.
My reactions/responses:
The buildings trapping a piece of sky – I began to feel panicky as soon as I looked at it. It made me very uncomfortable.
The cage – I felt as if it were an allegory for our lives. We live them out inside our own cages and try to pretend it is the real world. In the background are more houses where others live out their lives. What are they pretending?
The Wood stove – I felt an ambiguity between the acts of collecting wood and burning wood. Are we all split personalities in some areas of our lives?
The arm and cane – I felt strength. The physical strength needed to go anywhere, do anything, but also the emotional strength needed to take up your walking stick and go out.
The man and woman – He is open, looking directly into the camera. She is curled in upon herself, hiding from the camera and from life – afraid to look at the camera or life directly.
The black & white photo – I see depression. A sad faced woman whose world has lost all of its color and everything is seen as a shade of gray. Her friend, the dog, brings a bit of light into her world, but not enough to keep the overwhelming gray away.
The man on the sofa – He is living in a rather mismatched, barren world in which he doesn’t fit. The window is open, but escape is not easy.
Woman with bird figurine – Into a dark world a cheerful figure can bring light and hope. (The Robin sings cheer-up, cheer-up.)
Wall/posters – The mountain goat spends much of its life living on narrow, inaccessible high ledges, but it has an ability to make wonderful leaps away from its present place to a new, more pleasant place.
The kittens – Total security, total happiness. Mother, milk, warmth, love. All their needs are met and their purrs join with their mothers’ as she enjoys the comfort of giving to her children.
Woman with child – Her arms are reaching for her child. She has a slight smile. Is she like the mother cat, happy to share herself with her child?
Puzzles - The busyness of puzzles covers the emptiness of life.
-- posted by phoehne
» Ravenlea - Re: Picture response
In response to Picture response posted by phoehne:Hi Peggy,
Thanks so much for sharing your reactions to the photos.
It's strange how much the same my reaction to many of the photos was to yours - until you got to the cane. As the arm and the cane are mine, I have a much more negative reaction to them. I see the arm as ugly the cane as an symbol of weakness. What a blessing to have someone give me a new way of seeing it. Thank you so much for that and for all the thoughts you have shared.
I also really liked what you said about the rams leaping... nice idea.
Many Blessings,
-- posted by Ravenlea
» Ravenlea - Re: Re: Re: Picture response
In response to Re: Re: Picture response posted by rainne:Hi Kelly,
Thanks for visiting. Would love to hear any more visceral response you had to any of the photos.
I will check out your course once I have gotten myself packed and relocated.
Many Blessings.
-- posted by Ravenlea
» bellspirit - The experience of being photographed....
I'd like to make this post about the experience of being photographed, as an agoraphobic. (For those of you reading this who don't know me, my name is Robyn and I'm the one in the photo with the long blonde hair, holding the little bird statue).First of all, I have to say how impressed I was by Corinne, by her professionalism, her kindness and respectfulness... she was very sweet and it was a great pleasure to meet her!!
As far as being photographed... I never thought of my space, as an agoraphobic, as being any different from anyone else's space because interior space is important to everyone, and most people have objects, chachkas, things that mean something to them around their homes. Perhaps because agoraphobics spend more time in their homes, it might seem as if our interior spaces have more meaning than most people's do, but I'm wondering if that is true. Some of the photographs Corinne has taken... one man had practically nothing in his home, it was so stark. That one stood out in my mind so much.
I hope that my space didn't give a false impression of what all agoraphobics' interior spaces are like. Even before I became agoraphobic, I had cats and lots of objects around me of significance, just as I do now.
I did really like the photograph Corinne took of me, but it had a feeling that I don't feel about myself... perhaps it was her perception of me as an agoraphobic. Although it was a beautiful image, it was a bit haunting, dark, somber. I do have my somber moments, but... as beautiful as her work is, I feel that the photograph, so dark, didn't represent me as much as it might have represented what Corinne imagined my life to be? I feel much more light in my life... mine is not such a dark world clinging to objects for comfort... but that is what I would see in the photo she took of me if I didn't know me. I wished so badly that we had taken some photos outside because I have a very strong connection to nature and love being outside... I just can't get too far from home.
Anyway... I did enjoy meeting Corinne very much, the experience of being photographed and I think this project has a great deal of significance, as it helps shed light upon those of us who not many people are aware of.
Thanks Corinne!!!!!!! And thank you Katherine for hosting the article and photos!!
Robyn
-- posted by bellspirit
» Ravenlea - Re: The experience of being photographed....
In response to The experience of being photographed.... posted by bellspirit:Hi Robyn,
Thank you so much for sharing your experience of being photographed, your own response to the photos and something about yourself and your life. (I'm still looking for volunteers to share their stories, you know...)
I do think that it's hard for one image to represent who or how a person is. It would be interesting to see the whole series of photos that Corinne took. I'm sure there are others that are full of light and that capture a broader sense of who you are. Your photo didn't seem sad to me even though it was dark. I thought it was kind of whimsical - Robyn and the robin... I think we all project ourselves onto everything. I do, anyway. It's wonderful, then, to hear the voice and reaction of the subject of a photo.
Anyway, thanks so much for posting here and for allowing Corinne to share your picture with us.
Many Blessings,
Katherine
-- posted by Ravenlea
» dianne50 - my thoughts
I have just looked at the photos and they were quite interesting l have a collection of thoughts on them,but that is only my point of view.The Building looking up at the sky l feel that you are hiding away and just looking out at the world by looking up, you are trapped with in the four walls.
The Couple On the couch, the guy seems to be distant,away in his own thoughts, and the girl she seems to be curled up not wanting to have her photo taken just wanting to hide.
Robyn with the Robin she is gentle and caring wanting to take in the gentleness of the bird.
The Girl in the garden, she seems sad and lonely the dog seems to want to hide behind her so no one will touch him.
The kittens feeding, they are feeling the warmth of there mother and the scurity.
Guy on couch, he seems to be quiet and wants to just be left alone so he can lay on his own in his lonely unit.
The ram, he seems to be at the top of the world and loving it looking down on the world.
The hand and cane, this is of someone sitting on a bench seat, a person that is lonely and relying on the cane for support buts holds her head tall.
The puzzle, it is of a pussled mind mixed up and confussed.
The cage, it seems as if the person is trapped and looking from inside out.
Fire mantel, A feeling of warmth and comfy and cosy, a welcoming feeling.
dianne
-- posted by dianne50
» Ravenlea - Re: my thoughts
In response to my thoughts posted by dianne50:Hi,
Nice to hear from you. Thanks so much for sharing your responses to the photos. I'm hoping that maybe Corinne can persuade one or two of her subjects to share their stories and then we can have more photos so that we get a true-er picture of their lives. I'm hoping that a few others will join Robyn in sharing their reactions to being photographed and having their photos viewed. I think in some ways as people who (projecting myself here) who hide away, it is quite a step out of the "house" for us to let ourselves be seen in such a public way and I am truly grateful to those who have volunteered to be photographed and then allowed those photos to be shared here.
Speaking of houses, I hope your work on the house is progressing nicely and you are now putting your feet up to enjoy the fruits of your labors.
Many Blessings,
-- posted by Ravenlea
» dianne50 - Re: Re: my thoughts
In response to Re: my thoughts posted by Ravenlea:Hi Kathrine yes the renovations are nearly finished we are just waiting on our kitchen so we can pick it up and then that will be finished, then maybe l can put my feet up for a while till we start painting the out side, it just never seems to end but it keeps me busy.
I hope you are getting ready to shift into your new place soon, it should be a great feeling when you get there, just think of it that no one can kick you out, good luck.
-- posted by dianne50
» Ravenlea - Re: Re: Re: my thoughts
In response to Re: Re: my thoughts posted by dianne50:Hi,
Glad things are moving along with your house.
I'm looking forward to moving. I got my 4% mortgage and am just waiting for things to process. No closing date yet but hopefully by this time next month. Crazy landlady has moved out of this house, so my tension level is much improved. I'm chipping away at packing and hopefully will be ready by the time moving day arrives.
Congrats on your wonderful home. I will envision you relaxing during your summer as I snuggle in to my new home for our winter here.
Many Blessings,
-- posted by Ravenlea
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