Home Away from Home
As a teenager, I moved from one small town to another and initially found it difficult to find comfort in a place in which I knew absolutely nothing. This was the case when I moved to Mandeville, Louisiana at age 14. I can now say I view it as another home to me; a place filled with the family and friends that I’ve made over the years. Within my photographic essay, A Home Away from Home, I explore and revisit the lifestyle of adolescents growing up in a small town on the Northshore, Louisiana- searching out forms of entertainment within the few places’ teenagers frequently visit. I highlight the memories made at these locations by photographing important people to me at locations we’d frequented growing up. The series emphasizes the isolation and stillness of being raised in a small town by including photographs of abandoned locations and local nature.
Within the series I also include portraits of individuals who have spent almost the majority of their life in Mandeville. By comparing and contrasting the lifestyles of teenagers and older generations on the Northshore, I illustrate how everyone keeps themselves busy with what they consider “their own sorts of fun”. Growing up in small towns has made me appreciate the calmness and security I feel in these places, while also wanting to get out of my comfort zone and discover ease in new places outside of my homes.
