Philippe Desveaux, 0 Callan Park 1 (Portrait (2019))

This was a playful creative shoot with Sage Amethyst (@sage_selenite_amethyst) where we explored the environs of Callan Park, Lilyfield. The backdrop of Callan Park formed an ideal setting with its long history as a site of mental health treatment, often using methods that would be deemed totally unacceptable today. Sage's present-day freedom of self-expression at Callan Park was a cathartic element of this shoot. No longer bound by their strictly enforced gender identities, and sexual preferences, these captured moments here were a reprieve from discrimination they experienced elsewhere. What is conveyed through these images and words is only one small part of Sage's story. Their strength is evident through having survived assault. The images perhaps only allude to their BPD and chronic physical illnesses, some of which cause immense pain. I am immensely grateful to Sage for giving me the opportunity to participate in this shoot.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.