DISCLAIMER: SOCIAL DISTANCING GUIDELINES WERE FOLLOWED CLOSELY AT THE TIME OF THIS PHOTOSHOOT WITH ALL THE SAFETY MEASURES IN PLACE TO PROTECT MYSELF & ACKASH.
The next subject I’ve photographed for the photography series is Ackash Potiwal.
It’s been two years since I last met up with Ackash as the last time I met up with him was when I was in my second job I left after five weeks, and to meet up with him for the first time in two years was liberating as we did so much catching up as there was so much to talk about and I won’t lie, I was quite emotional because when you haven’t seen some friends of yours for such a long time, it does hit you emotionally how much you miss your friends, especially with the current situation with everything going on in the world now with COVID, and to meet up with him was a true blessing as it felt like it was only yesterday I had last seen him because we kept in contact after I left my second job.
Ackash was so expressive with his emotions as these photos captured his raw, genuine emotions, especially the moments where his personality really shines through, especially in the sense where you can see him conveying feelings of anger, sadness and elements of Ackash appearing overwhelmed at certain stages.
iPhone 11
Can You Not? 
I Just Need a Moment. 
I Know I May Be Thinking This Out Loud From The Expression On My Face, But What On Earth Are They Doing?
Nikon D3300
What The?! 
Seriously, Don’t Even Go There! 
Don’t Be So Ridiculous! 
I Don’t Know Whether, In My Mind, I Should Listen to this Nonsense or Whether to Just Walk Off. 
Just Give Me My Space. I Haven’t Felt This Unhappy in a Long Time. 
Where Do I Go From Here? 
Now That is Funny! 
I Have That Positive High on Life Feeling & I Feel Good! 
Ha Ha Ha! That’s Brilliant!
There’s a sense of calm, a feeling of content and moments of happiness in some of these photos which show Ackash’s genuine emotions.
No, That’s Way Too Much Information & You’re Making Me Laugh! 
Excuse Me?! 
Oh My God, Why Does This Always Happen to Me? 
Look to the Future. It’s Only Just Begun! 
Now That’s Interesting!
What I think is interesting is how Ackash has shown his genuine emotions, while also being unafraid to express his feelings and emotions openly, as he’s not afraid to show when he’s disgusted over something he may have just been told at that specific moment in time.
You’ve Now Got My Undivided Attention.
He’s also expressive in the fact he exhibits the confidence to be himself, which is rare to come by nowadays with mental health now being talked about more openly compared to the last 10-15 years where it used to be isolated and not widely discussed, whereas nowadays it’s now more widely discussed and not as isolated as it was 10-15 years ago, though with mental health, although mental health has come a very long way, there’s still a lot more work to do before it can no longer be isolated and eventually be destigmatised altogether to encourage everyone to be open about mental health as a whole.
I hope this photo-set inspires you and if you’re feeling overwhelmed with everything going on in the world surrounding the COVID-19 Pandemic, please don’t hesitate to open up about how you’re feeling as I would want for all of you to be safe and well and open about how this pandemic has made you feel and how your life has changed as a result of the pandemic.
Stay safe, everyone!
Alex Smithson
Equipment Used:
- Nikon D3300
- 18-55mm NIKKOR Lens
- TAMRON AF70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di LD Macro 1:2
- iPhone 11
- App Used: Instagram (Free)
- Filter Used: Inkwell
Location of Photoshoot: London, United Kingdom
Date of Photoset Produced: Saturday 22nd August 2020
Mother Nature 