Photo essay Photojournalism

The magazine of the photo-essay

June 2018 issue

“A free, really high quality photo-essay magazine. Fabulous!” Stephen Fry. British actor, writer and film maker

by Jess Dugan

Every Breath We Drew explores the power of identity, desire, and connection through portraits of myself and others. Working within the framework of queer experience and from my actively constructed sense of masculinity, my portraits examine the intersection between private, individual identity and the search for intimate connection with others. I photograph people in their homes and personal spaces, using medium and large format cameras to create a deep, sustained engagement, resulting in an intimate and detailed portrait. I combine portraits of individuals, couples, and self-portraits to investigate broader themes of identity and connection while also speaking to my personal experience. The photographs of men and masculine individuals act as a kind of mirror; they depict the type of gentle masculinity I am attracted to, and also the kind I want to embody. Similarly, the photographs of relationships speak to a drive to be seen,

understood, and desired through the eyes of another person; a reflection of the self as the ultimate intimate connection. Rather than attempting to describe a specific identity or group- the gender identity and sexual orientation of the individuals varies greatly- Every Breath We Drew asks larger questions about how identity is formed, desire is expressed, and intimate connection is sought.