Joseph II

by Natalie Montoya

“Black and white film photography creates a world that is nostalgic and timeless. It transports the viewer to a realm outside the world of color. My desire to work in black and white photography is because of the ambiguity it creates. The subject, laid bare, exposes who they really are without the presence of color. Film photography is more intentional than digital as each image once developed, can’t be undone. I have an intimate connection to the process as I handle the film and watch the photos come to life. Laura Aguilar is a lesbian Mexican American photographer who photographs her fellow queer Chicanos. They represent who she is and where she comes from. Similarly, my creative practice examines feminine and masculine ideals and how these ideals kin to their identity. I want their essence to show through these images and embody who they are. These photos are reflections of my own identity. I learn more about myself as I meet new people and learn about them too.”