southerndeepfriedphotography
By: Adam G.
A visual manifestation of internal struggle, this piece captures the tension between entrapment and transformation. Shot in the vast desert of Terlingua, Texas, a place both desolate and freeing, the image reflects the battle between my depression and the hope for something beyond it.
The ocotillo, reaching upwards like fractured veins of light, stands resilient against the surreal sky—its branches stretching beyond the weight of the present. The inverted colors distort reality, mirroring the way anxiety skews perception, making even the simplest moments feel otherworldly. The electric blues and burning oranges clash in an uncomfortable harmony, much like my mind wavers between chaos and clarity.
The desert is endless, just as the cycles of my mental health can feel, but the stars above remind me that something greater exists beyond what I can see now. This photograph is a meditation on escape—not just from the physical place, but from the repetitive, exhausting cycles of the mind.
Healing is distant, but possible. The sky cracks open with color, a glimpse of what could be if I keep pushing forward—if I can learn to break through the static.
Hon. Mention · Adult Photography (2025)
