Laughter & Love

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Laughter & Love is a photograph exploring the dynamic relationship between me and my half-sister. Despite the 14-year age gap that separates us, we have this unbreakable sibling bond. This relationship of being able to be a big brother again at this mature age allowed me to reconnect with my inner child. Exposure to younger siblings allows you to re-embrace those moments of playful goofiness. Through the perspective of photography, I aimed to create a piece of storytelling through the interconnection of the deep love and emotions present.

I wanted to capture the simplistic beauty of older and younger sibling bonds through this storytelling piece. Having a half-sibling has taught me the importance of not defining family by fully shared genetics and embracing the love and support you can offer to each other. Taking silly photographs with my sister is one of my favorite moments of bonding. Creating memories of laughter and joy through simply channeling my inner child helped me reconnect to this simple time of life. Being able to break down those walls and fully express these silly emotions brings a sense of joy to this unique bond.

The background sets the scene up north in Gravenhurst, Ontario. This area of Ontario is part of our typical yearly family summer plans. Escaping from the familiar living environment and being able to immerse ourselves in this beautiful scenic part of Canada is breathtaking. Through the storytelling aspect of this piece, the unique environmental setting of being away from the stress of an urban lifestyle is great for connecting close bonds within families. Creating a somewhat simplistic background choice of the surrounding forest influenced the environmental setting of the photograph. Looking back upon it now, the presence of the Group of Seven influence is seen within the environment as this place of Canada is where they were influenced in creating their works.

Laughter & Love captures the close bond of a huge age gap between my half-sister and me. Despite the ongoing differences between two siblings, that connection is unbreakable through the ups and downs. Capturing those moments of joy and laughter through my adult self has awakened my inner child through that older brother's sibling guidance. Through photography, I’ve been able to recapture the narrative of the playfulness and pure love shared between us.

Where it's been: Family Matters, Ada Slaight Gallery, Toronto, ON. 2025