Photographer Graham MacIndoe captures photos of Heroin Addiction that people don't necessarily see very often. These photos are very different than your average photo series depicting drug addiction. We are so used to seeing drug paraphernalia, portraits of expressions or someone physically using the drug of choice.
Graham MacIndoe decided to take a very different approach. He presents the heroin addiction portraits through a motif of little white baggies. He says that it "depicts the many heroin bags the artist, once an addict himself, encountered while using. "I became intrigued by the typography and design of the glassine envelopes used to package dope."
The photographs are clean and simple. The subtle references to the drug addict's lifestyle is haunting, especially knowing that this person has most definitely went through highs and lows throughout the usage.
Morphine-Identifying Photography
Graham MacIndoe Shows a Side of Addiction We Don't Often See
Trend Themes
1. Subtle Addiction Photography - Photographers are capturing drug addiction in subtle yet powerful ways that showcase the impact of addiction on a person's lifestyle and wellbeing.
2. Artistic Substance-related Still Life - Photography is moving towards a more artistic and symbolic representation of substance abuse through still life depictions and use of motifs.
3. Aesthetic Therapy for Addiction Recovery - Aesthetic-based therapies and programs are being developed to help individuals in addiction recovery explore their emotions and experiences through mediums like photography.
Industry Implications
1. Photography - Photographers can work on various projects that represent addiction and substance abuse in an artistic and insightful way, presenting people affected by drug addiction as people in need of help and understanding
2. Art Therapy - The field of art therapy can expand the use of photography as a tool for self-expression and self-discovery, especially for individuals dealing with substance abuse
3. Addiction Treatment Centers - Addiction treatment centers can incorporate aesthetic-based therapies like photography into their treatment programs to help patients process the emotions and experiences related to addiction and recovery.