“Semi-detached” emerged from a personal period of escapism following difficult news that left me feeling detached from reality. Struggling to be present, I internalized my distress and channeled it into my art, using intentional camera movement and lens masking to convey themes of detachment and altered perception. This project reflects my journey through these emotions, capturing authentic moments of chaos and clarity without digital manipulation.

SEMI-DETACHED (2023)

I have created photographs of flowers that are far from ordinary. While they may appear typical at first glance, I utilized a completely unique technique to capture them. To create these works, I placed the flowers in a dark room and set my camera to a long exposure. I then illuminated them with a phone screen playing pornographic content. The result is a series of floral arrangements that reflect the carnal colors and erotic scenes of the content, creating a striking contrast between concept and composition.

DEFLOWERED (2022)

By incorporating tights into my portraits, I distorted familiar faces, subverting the traditional "happy family" aesthetic and creating a sense of distance and discomfort. Through this work, I aim to encourage viewers to question the authenticity of the "happy family" narrative and reflect on the performative nature of family photography, which often prioritizes appearances over reality, concealing the imperfections that make family relationships both challenging and meaningful.

STRANGELY FAMILIAR (2018-2023)

This project, rooted in my childhood home, explores how environments shape our identities. Over three years, I captured photographs that reflect the surreal and emotional nature of childhood memories. Using on-camera flash with colored gels, I created dreamlike images that evoke the vibrant and formative years of my youth. ​

CHARACTER BUILDING (2018-2024)

Using signs, symbols, and negative space, Merging Moments captures my Bulgarian travel experiences through double exposures.

MERGING MOMENTS (2022-2024)

This project explores the unexpected similarities between smoking and religion, two seemingly disparate concepts. By blending the iconography of both, I’ve created images that examine parallels in advertising, lifestyle, mortality, and the sense of subscription inherent to each. Through visual metaphor and symbolism, I aim to challenge assumptions and inspire new ways of understanding these intertwined aspects of culture.​

HOLY SMOKES (2020)

With this series of photographs, I aimed to explore the psychological journey that many people go through when trying to quit a bad habit. Each image is a visual metaphor that represents a different aspect of this experience, from the struggle to break free from the habit to the sense of liberation that comes with finally succeeding. By using photography to capture these abstract concepts, I hope to encourage viewers to reflect on their own experiences and find new ways to connect with the world around them.

SUBSTITUTION (2019-2020)

In Objectification, I explore the connection between grammatical gender and real-world perceptions of gender. By reimagining inanimate objects through careful composition and lighting, I challenge the gender assignments that are ingrained in both language and culture. Each image focuses on the form and function of the object rather than its perceived gender, inviting viewers to reconsider the assumptions we make based on linguistic gender.

OBJECTIFICATION (2019-2020)

As a fussy eater growing up, I often left food on my plate, carefully avoiding certain textures and flavors. This project reflects my childhood struggles with food, capturing the remnants of meals I didn’t finish.

William Joe Josephs Radford's Art Collections