Media

Niamh Boura

on feeling overwhelmed

‘On Feeling Overwhelmed’ is a photography series that is intended to illustrate the feeling of being overwhelmed in visual form. I have done this through three common facets of the feeling: Isolation, Anxiousness and Giving In.

ISOLATION

This series is supposed to convey the feeling of isolation that is a common factor in feeling overwhelmed. Often, when we’re overwhelmed we feel as though we are alone in our situation with nobody to help us - I have attempted to convey this feeling through these photos with their low lighting and blue tones which are symbolic of being alone.

 ANXIOUSNESS

Perhaps the strongest part of feeling overwhelmed is the anxiousness that people experience. This feeling rises the more overwhelmed we get, and is often the most emotionally and mentally taxing. Through this series I have tried to convey the feeling of anxiousness and the way it builds up through metaphor, with the clothes symbolising the stress.

GIVING IN

My final series is intended to illustrate the final part of feeling overwhelmed, when you have no hope for overcoming your situation, are too tired to keep fighting it, find a sense of acceptance, and finally give in. I have tried to convey this through the subject’s expression and through editing the environment to make it look harsh and barren.