A naked figure sits blurred in the background, surrounded by warm color and soft light. In the foreground, a small magnifying glass reveals a sharply focused, black and white reflection of intertwined arms gently wrapped around a body. The image within the lens appears smaller than the figure behind it, creating a surreal contrast in scale and perspective. This intentional shift invites a closer, more thoughtful gaze.
This photograph is a reflection of my personal story with body dysmorphia. The magnifying glass becomes both a tool and a metaphor, highlighting how obsessive focus on perceived imperfections can distort reality and flip self-image upside down. The black and white reflection inside the lens mirrors the mental tunnel vision I often experience, where flaws feel overwhelming and all-consuming. Meanwhile, the colorful, blurred background represents the vibrant, complex reality I struggle to fully see when caught in these thoughts. My full body is there, yet it fades into the edges of the frame, overshadowed by what feels like a smaller, more manageable version of me inside the glass.
The effect of the magnifying glass distorts the scale, making it hard to tell what is real and what is exaggerated. This reflects how body dysmorphia warps not only how I see myself, but also how I feel in my own skin. Through this image, I confront that struggle. I examine how my mind holds onto these distortions and how they connect to deeper issues around self-worth and mental health.
At its core, this photograph is about renewal. Not the loud, visible kind, but a slow, internal process of learning to live with myself fully. It is about accepting my body with all its perceived flaws, and beginning to see beauty in its entirety. By turning the lens on myself, I am not just magnifying the pain, I am choosing to understand it. And in doing so, I make space for healing, softness, and self-love to grow.
