TITLE: Growing Pains

A figure stands centered against a neutral backdrop, their head completely obscured by an oversized patterned sweater that drapes down past their shoulders. The garment, too large for the body it covers, creates a sense of imbalance and restriction, while the figure’s arms hang passively at their sides. Their face is hidden within the hollow of the sweater’s neckline, removing identity and expression, and leaving only posture and form to communicate emotion.

The black-and-white tonal range emphasizes texture—the softness of the knit against the structure of denim—while also heightening the sense of isolation. The absence of the face shifts attention to the body as a site of transition, where growth feels both physical and psychological. The figure appears caught between stages, swallowed by something that no longer fits, yet still belongs to them.

This image reflects the discomfort of growing up—the in-between space where identity is forming but not yet fully visible. It speaks to the tension between dependence and independence, childhood and adolescence, where change can feel overwhelming, disorienting, and quietly consuming.

Growing Pains
Silver Gelatin Print
2025
11 X 14

AUTHOR: TILLY DEWEY (United States)

“Mom, stop taking pictures of us!” my 12-year-old twin daughters protest as I quietly photograph them. This moment reflects the foundation of my photographic practice, which is rooted in observing life stages marked by fleeting transitions shaped by curiosity and play. My work captures emotional intensity as it develops between awareness and innocence.

I work primarily with in-camera black-and-white film photography and produce silver gelatin prints. This analog process is central to the conceptual framework of my work. Taking the photograph, developing the film, and watching the image slowly appear in the darkroom feels like a small act of magic. The process demands attentiveness, patience, and commitment to the moment as it unfolds. By working without post-production, each image remains a direct and honest record of time.

This visual record explores moments shaped by structure and predictability alongside a child’s perspective, where planning and chance quietly coexist. By embracing the technical constraints and expressive possibilities of a historical analog medium, my work remains grounded in materiality and presence. The images preserve fleeting gestures and interactions, emphasizing authenticity, impermanence, and the temporal nature of childhood.