Contreras, Rocio, artist2023-05-042023-05-042023https://hdl.handle.net/10217/236464Colorado State University Art and Art History Department capstone project.Capstone contains the artist's statement, a list of works, and images of works.The artist's statement: The human experience is a complex and unique experience full of ebbs and flows that is centralized on the individual. Sharing these individual perspectives is what has proven to me to be one of the most crucial parts of humanity. Without our experiences, what are we? Through my time I have found many avenues of expressing my experiences and viewpoints. Whether that is through poetry, performing or visual art, self expression has been a cornerstone in the creation of my work. I am extremely passionate in photography as it has a remarkable ability to encapsulate a version of reality while providing the viewer with a space to create their own narrative. My emphasis in portrait photography is directly tied to my need for interaction with different perspectives. The DSLR camera with a 50mm lens is my tool of choice as it provides a comfortable setting for my subject without losing the closeness and intimacy in my photographs. Digital printing is my preferred avenue as it provides a higher localized attention to detail, allowing me to be able to accommodate my subject's specific needs. My work is a reflection of my life as it follows themes of immigration, queerness, activism, and loss. As part of my thesis I looked into the concept of identity and growth within the LGBTIA+ community. Many times we are put into categories used to describe how palatable we are to other people. "Duality" talks about the presence of both aspects of a personality without the need to pick one over the other. We are both.born digitalStudent worksengCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.photo image makingText