Torso, 2009 by Camila Pombo
Memory and nostalgia frequently appear in photography because of the medium's ability to document and preserve changes that happen over time. Contender Camila Pombo has chosen to explore these themes through documenting her family to place herself in its transitory heritage. She writes about her work:
For the last two years, my photography has revolved around my family and what we are based upon. I was born in Spain but moved to the United States when I was just two years of age; once in the U.S., I was never in the same house and/or town for more than a couple years. By the time I turned fifteen I had lived in three different states six different homes. Because of this, I have never felt like I truly belonged to any one place. I do not consider myself Spanish nor do I consider myself American. In my images I have tried to find a truthful way to represent my home in order to understand it better.
Father's Shoes, 2009 by Camila Pombo
Her series functions as a step back to observe the relationships she has grown up with but never had the chance to consider or deconstruct. As viewers, the stark environments and objects in solitude—like her father's shoes or a Virgin Mary statue— force us to look for a deeper connection beyond what's obviously presented. We are able to piece together a narrative of the family and characters, even though their faces aren't present in the images.
Mom Posing by Green Wall and Dad Watching TV, 1984 by Larry Sultan
Camila's work reminds me of Larry Sultan's Pictures from Home, which documents his aging parents over the course of a decade. He explores their relationship to one another and to their surroundings, which are odd and hilarious but full of care and intent at the same time. The narrative that emerges from the series is strong because—for me at least—there is a familiarity to the daily processes, family dynamic and the interactions I observe in my own life. As with Camila's series, I am able to sense more clearly my own personal narrative, through the documentation of her family.
You can see more of Camila's work on her website.