O L I V I A  B R A C L E Y

Alopecia is a condition that results in the loss of hair from the scalp or anywhere else from the body. It typically affects individuals under the age of 20. Alopecia occurs when the immune system attacks hair follicles. About ten percent of people with Alopecia never experience hair regrowth. This can be from a family history, developing the condition before puberty, or having another autoimmune disease.

Although Alopecia does not affect me personally, it affects one of my close friends. When I introduce someone to him for the first time, they always ask me why he doesn’t have hair. His baldness is always the first thing someone notices about him. It makes me wonder what it’s like for him to live with it. Do people make judgements about him? Has it ever made him feel like an outcast? Everyone has special characteristic that makes them unique, and for him, it is his Alopecia.

I showcased his defining characteristic by creating a halo of light around his head to make his head the focal point of the photograph. I did this by placing a strong light source behind a white backdrop. The silhouette of his body eliminates potential distractions from other characteristics, like scars or freckles.