The next subject in my photography series is my close friend, Oriane Rose Beech.
Whilst me and a couple of close friends revisited Mayfield Lavender Farm in June, shortly after marking my 20th Birthday, we did a lot of catching up after some time considering I had the last two weeks of June off for annual leave.
While we were there, Oriane was so expressive and was being herself as these photos proved she was being her actual self and not the version of herself others would expect of her.
Also, these facial expressions you see her making were actually off-guard and not put on at all. Oriane wasn’t even aware of the expressions she made until I showed her these photographs and even now the photos create humour and energy and to be yourself, to express yourself and to show everyone who you actually are and not what anyone thinks you really are is an admirable and rare freedom in itself.
They Can’t Be Serious?! 
That’s Disturbing! 
I Literally Don’t Know What to Say. 
What Was That You Gave Me to Eat? It’s Awful! 
Just Kidding! 
No! Not Interested! 
I’m Bored! Someone Enlighten Me! 
F**K YOU! 
Oh, Please! 
Wait, What? How Does That Resonate? Explain! 
Meh! 
Oh, I Get it Now! 
That’s Made Me Chuckle! 
Stop! I’m Going to Get a Stitch! 
Aaaah! I Feel at Ease!
I chose these three photos from this photo-set that I knew would stand out the most after I put them up on the Mother Nature Instagram Page.
F**K YOU! 
Oh, Please! 
That’s Made Me Chuckle!
Looking back at these photographs and seeing just how good they were after I produced them made me realise that everyone has a personality, it’s about knowing the personality of the person you come across and not the version of the personality others expect that matters.
I look for the real personality in everyone, not the version of their personality that others expect of them and these photo-sets are my intention of documenting mental health on a personal level where you can always be yourself free from the judgment of others who want, need and expect you to conform or pander to their way of how they want you to look to them.
I look below the surface when it comes to the subjects I photograph as I want to capture how they really feel emotionally deep-down behind the hard exterior they show.
It’s not about how they feel on the outside that I’m bothered about, it’s how they really feel on the inside that truly matters.
I feel this is a remarkable improvement on the photo-sets I’ve produced for the series so far, but if there are any improvements I can make, please let me know in the comments. I would love to hear your responses.
Alex Smithson
Date of Photo-Set Produced: Sunday 17th June 2018
Location of Photoshoot: Mayfield Lavender Farm, Banstead, London
DSLR Used: Nikon D3300
Lens Used: 18 – 55 NIKKOR Lens
