For this portrait assignment, I wanted to explore identity, self-presentation, and the tension between confidence and concealment. Sneakers — especially Jordans — have always been a personal symbol of individuality and self-expression, so I used them as the focal point of the composition. By emphasizing the shoe and distorting my body in an unusual position, I aimed to challenge traditional portrait perspectives and highlight how identity can be both seen and obscured. Everything looks off, and I love it.

This work was created using studio lighting to produce a bright, almost airy atmosphere that contrasts with the slightly strange and contorted pose. I positioned myself so that the viewer’s eye is drawn first to the Jordans, then up to my body, which is quickly disappearing into the sweep. I wore my favorite outfit — with big bellbottom jeans that pair with the forshortened perspective — adding authenticity and grounding the visual elements in something personal.