Photographer Research Christian Hopkins

Christian Hopkins

Christian Hopkins received a camera as a gift, capturing the world in a different light which he used as therapy for his depression. This allowed him to channel his emotions battling with his own demons. He spent most of his holidays "stuck to the viewfinder" which he claims even though some may say will make you miss the moments, for him it magnifies the moment, making him notice things he hadn't previously taken notice to. His camera almost became his third eye.  

This photo is a great way to express depression- now we know this is what Hopkins was suffering with when creating these images. A subject is sat in a chair distressed whilst three other subjects are reaching to him- the fact these subjects look scary is important because this could be his mental framework- feeling as if everything is expecting too much from him. These other subjects could also be taken as his own mental mind. He is in pain, struggling to clearly show himself.

This composite image is really symbolic and beautiful. This is because it implies this subject- due to his mental illness (depression), has been sat here for a very long time and just doesn't/ can't bring himself to moving away. The reason this is implied is because a tree appeared to be growing outside of him, he has been sat there long enough for this to happen. Also another important factor to this image is the branches growing out of him are dead, not alive, conveying a sense of inner death.

When researching Christian Hopkins I found an interview with him which said how for most of his life, he felt like his own emotions didn't matter, he was just a reflection of the person he was speaking to. I feel this photo is powerfully thought provoking and believe it shows how Hopkins must have been feeling. Many people with depression believe they are alone, trapped on the other side of a mirror and is just a reflection which doesn't matter. The way this shows this is because the subject appears to be trying to breakthrough the mirror on to the other side but is fading/ crumbling away, showing a constant struggle which he must have been going through for a very long time.

I chose this final image because I thought it was beautiful. The way Hopkins captures the isolation of a subject by misting around him- either through photoshop manipulating or an actual smoke machine. Music is known to be better than listening to other people, the way this subject appears to be making his own music (on the piano) yet is on his own shows how he is used to being alone and giving himself something to do.