The Pursuit contains two series that I have been working on over the course of a year. In my first series I explored vulnerability. The models were asked, “What fear do you have, that currently effects your life?” The answer was written on their bodies or somewhere in the environment. The models were given control over where the text was placed and where the picture was made. The goal of the project was to help me overcome of my own fears, and help me to understand who I am, and why I hold back. It was the first time I photographed myself partially nude, and it was the first time I openly admitted one of my fears. After working with so many people and realizing how similar we all are, I was able to overcome my fear while helping others acknowledge theirs.

After reaching a point of satisfaction with the first series I wanted to document relationships and feelings in a different manner. I wanted to use the camera as means to explore the dynamics of a relationship. I decided to document my own relationship. My partner and I have very busy schedules so the series evolved into a documentation of our relationship within our home. When I decided to document a relationship, I imagined myself having a voyeuristic perspective into someone else’s life. When I became the subject it was hard finding a balance between truth and deceit. A lot of the images are composed for the camera and I started to feel like the series was false documentation of my relationship. I had to embrace the fact that my photographs are subjective. The series then became a testimony of how I overcame my fear of giving my heart to a man.

The Pursuit is an account of how I was able to find myself through my work.

Andrese Lavonne