I entered a competition...

The Isis Centre for Women's Action on Eating Issues Inc ran a national photographic competition recently as part of Body Image and Eating Disorders Awareness Week. I read the competition guidelines and was intrigued. I'm not really one for entering photo comps - I think about it but have never actually entered one (perhaps I'm too lazy). But this one sounded quite different. What sort of images could I create for such a competition?

My friend Monica helped me out. She had recently shaved her head for the Cancer Council's Shave For A Cure, and was very happy to shave her stubble off again for this photo shoot. The stark baldness helped with the feeling of being exposed, uncovered, vulnerable, that I wanted to convey.

The Competition guidelines were as follows:

We invite everyone to submit images that reflect the challenge, the heartache, the joy of being a woman in a variety of ways:

* The challenge of living with a mental health issue;
* Showing women's struggle with body image and societal pressures;
* Illustrating key conceptual features that reflect the universal experience of being a woman; and
* Capturing the joy of being a woman.

The photographs we submitted were:

CONSUMED

UNDESIRABLE

DISPLACED


The middle one? That was fun. And messy. For those who are wondering, the white stuff is cornflour mixed with water, ie: "goop". Great fun for kids to play with - it is solid if you slap it and runny if you dribble it. It hoses off the pavers easily if you play with it outside, and you can just sweep it up when it's dry. ...Anyway, enough Mum talk, back to the photo. We shot a lot with the goop, but this one spoke to me the most about... well, I think I'll just let you listen to it yourself. I guess it spoke to the judges too, for they selected that one for third prize!