Michelle Sank is a British photographer who was born in Cape Town, South Africa. She is best known for her documentary-style photography that often focuses on social issues and marginalized communities.
Sank studied photography at the London College of Printing before beginning her career as a professional photographer in the late 1980s. Her work has been featured in numerous exhibitions and publications throughout the world, including The New York Times, The Guardian, and TIME Magazine.
One of Sank’s most famous projects is “In My Skin”, a series of portraits of teenagers in the UK who are coping with a variety of physical and emotional challenges. The project began in 2003 and continued for several years, resulting in a book of the same name that was published in 2007.
Her other projects have focused on a wide range of subjects, including immigrants in the UK, gay rights in Uganda, and the aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan.
Her photography is often characterized by its intimate and empathetic approach to her subjects, which allows her to capture the complexity of their lives and experiences. Her work is also notable for its use of natural light and simple compositions that highlight the humanity and dignity of her subjects.
In addition to her photography, Sank is also an educator and has taught at several institutions, including the University of Wales and the University of Falmouth in the UK.
Her work
image analysis
“My Self” is a photography project that explores the concept of identity through self-portraits. In this series, Michelle Sanks photographed individuals in a way that reveals their personalities and innermost selves. The portraits are raw, honest, and intimate, capturing the essence of the subject in a way that is both revealing and vulnerable.
Sanks’ use of black and white photography creates a timeless quality to the portraits, allowing the viewer to focus on the subject’s expressions and body language without any distraction from color. Through this series, Sanks challenges our preconceived notions of identity, showing that it is not just about how we look, but also about our experiences, emotions, and perceptions of ourselves.
Overall, “My Self” is a powerful and thought-provoking project that invites the viewer to reflect on their own identity and how we present ourselves to the world.