The Watchers

Previously published online and receiving viral exposure, this series of photographs examines how society uses gaze to project emotion and how we interpret the looks of others. The project began after the photographer noticed the facial expressions of a man standing behind her in the self-portrait she had set up in the middle of Times Square. Intrigued by the man and a similar photo that followed on the roll of film the photographer decided to set up her camera for the purpose of capturing the expressions of passersby. Each frame is chosen based on the strangers in the background, if they have a critical or questioning look, or if there is a gesture in their body language. By reversing the gaze back on the strangers, the collection begins a conversation about nonverbal interaction and the view society has on body image.