"I created this portrait of my mother, and titled it 1839 as a tribute to some of the first photographs ever taken, by Louis Daguerre.

Her clothing illustrates my interpretation of the nomad women of Sudan. The paisley pattern on the fabric, jewelry, face tattoos and dark lipstick are all staples of Sudanese Nomadic culture. I took the photograph, and used digital imaging software to give it the appearance of a vintage photograph. This image explores the theme of identity and the importance of photography during a time when it was not commonplace to have your portrait taken.

The piece was harder to complete than I had initially thought, it took a lot more than just adding a black and white filter on a computer. It definitely gave me a sense of appreciation for how easy it is to capture memories, compared to the processes of early pioneering photographers.
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