A former Birmingham model who has captured self portraits of herself coping with a curved spine will see her images displayed at The Photography Show at the NEC this weekend.
Ayesha Jones, 24 from Hall Green, was diagnosed with scoliosis at the age of 13 and her doctor told her that, without surgery, she’d be a “pretty girl with an ugly back”.
Scouted at the Clothes Show Live then rejected by modelling agencies because of her condition, Ayesha turned the camera on herself and created an inspiring photo documentary of her journey through physiotherapy, holistic treatment and ultimately surgery.
She then took portraits of other sufferers to empower them and show them how good they look.
Her incredible work has been noticed by Magnum Photos and she’s one of its '30 under 30' photographers taking part in The Photography Show from March 20-24 at the NEC.
“I wanted to tackle the way women are portrayed and I thought I’d do it through a fashion shoot,” she said.
“Then I realised that was just the same thing, that I was using them in a way.
“So I turned the camera on myself.
“I found it was like photo therapy, looking through the album of my journey, my exercises, treatment and surgery, and thinking about what it means to be accepted by society.
“I took ownership of my body image again rather than trying to re-educate others, I took control back and photography helped me to do that.
“When I showed the photographs to people, they said they could relate to them, even if they didn’t have scoliosis. They said ‘that’s how I feel’.
“It surprised me so I decided to make it into a project called Imperfection.”
Ayesha, whose mum first spotted her rotated shoulder on holiday when she was 13, worked with the Scoliosis Association where she photographed other scoliosis patients to help the charity to create a bank of inspiring images.
“The individuals told me they found it empowering,” says Ayesha, who had spinal fusion surgery two years ago after her condition worsened.
“For me, I cannot express how it feels for the work I have done to have touched someone, made them feel good about themselves and given them hope.”
Ayesha, who is also a filmmaker, has now come full circle, returning to the NEC where she was first scouted as a model. She is one of 30 international photographers exhibiting their winning pictures.
“I didn’t think I’d have a chance in the Magnum Photos competition as all my photos were self portraits done on timers compared to other people who had photographed amazing things from all around the world,” says Ayesha, who beat more than 600 entries from around the globe.
“The competition is called 30 under 30. It’s aim is to find the best documentary photographers under the age of 30, from around the world.
“There is also a people’s choice award for the top three photographers. It would be really great for my career if I won.
“I want my work to have a meaning, and I want to work with other people to share their stories and learn from each other.
“We are all struggling in some way or another. Part of life is to go through struggles and overcome them, not feel you have to hide them away and be perfect.
“It’s about uncovering the veil so people get a better understanding and talk to each other about what’s going on for themselves.”
Watch scoliosis patient Ren Gill's emotive song, which was filmed as part of Ayesha's Imperfection project.
• The show runs from March 20 to 24. To vote for Ayesha in the people’s choice category of the awards, visitwww.photographyshow.com/page.cfm/Action=library/libID=3/listID=5/t=m To find out more about the Scoliosis Association, visit www.sauk.org.uk
Source: Birmingham Mail , 21st March 2015
Source: Birmingham Mail , 21st March 2015
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