ICP Teen Academy

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Patricia Martinez



Mental health is something that a lot of people tend to struggle with. As someone who struggles with their mental health it tends to affect me physically, mentally, and emotionally. Even when people struggle, some tend to hide the fact that they are in a state of mind where you can’t think, eat, or even sleep properly. This project is very important to me, as a person who struggles,  my goal is to deliver this reality to viewers – sharing the raw emotions into the environment of people suffering from depression. But even though struggling is a big part, getting back up is even bigger. Photography speaks values through images, the documenting of not being able to get out of bed to being outside, seeing this light that gives a message to keep moving forward – that things will get better. Light reflects a message to people that there is still “hope” to keep on going, that your problems are only temporary, not forever. I hope through my images I could send a message to people who are struggling that they are not alone and things will get better. Shadows and sunlight: a journey through dark and the light.
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Patricia Martinez is a student photographer based in Manhattan, New York. Raised in the Bronx, she is a senior attending The High School of Fashion Industries majoring in photography. Patricia started in her sophomore year doing film and has now been doing digital since Junior year. During after school hours, she works and is part of her school's media team where she photographs her school’s clubs and events. In January she received an honorable mention for one of her photographs in the Scholastics Art and Writing Awards and will be participating in ICP’s panel in this year's Photoville Festival. Through her photography, Patricia focuses on projects capturing the ideas on self and mental health. Inspired by photographers like Chitose Kuroishi and Troy Colby, she photographs in black and white to capture the  heavy usage of shadows and light. She aspires to pursue photography in college at FIT next year and will be working on becoming a fine arts photographer.