I was still trying to figure out who I was through with my nude photography. I loved creating the work, but I was also afraid of being known for it. I shared very little with friends or family, even while slowly becoming more comfortable sharing some of the photographs online.
No Longer Hidden feels like that tension in a single image. On one side I am folded inward, guarded and trying to disappear. On the other, I am open, expressive, and taking up space. It was not like all the fear suddenly disappeared, but I was beginning to discover how much freedom could come from letting myself be known.
Looking back, I see confidence arriving in small doses. The more I allowed trusted people to see my photography and received acceptance instead of judgment, the easier it became to stop hiding quite so much. Fear closes us in. Love has a way of opening things back up.
