In a cultural landscape that is predominantly focused on manipulating images towards perfection, Sophie Mayanne is favouring a different approach. The 24-year-old photographer portrays women in a raw and honest way, purposefully focusing on features most fashion or beauty imagery would probably not put centre stage: scars. Starting a photography series called “Behind the Scars” earlier this year, Sophie is looking to change our perception of something we have often been taught is not to be shown. Especially because scars’ origins more often than not are inimitably linked to shocking or traumatic events.
In her series, Sophie’s protagonists speak openly and honestly about the situations that brought their scars about – and the London based photographer is equally vocal about what she wishes viewers take from her project: “I want people to be able to see them from my perspective, and I want them to see the beauty in themselves that other people see. I want them to feel comfortable, and liberated in embracing themselves wholly in front of the camera.”
This journey towards self-acceptance is one each of her subjects is tackling in a very personal way, Sophie says, with their relationships with themselves as varied as the scars themselves. “Some fully embrace them, others find the process of exposing them therapeutic. I learn something new from each person I meet, but I think what I’ve learnt that whatever life throws at you – it’s best to face it head on with a positive attitude!” Sophie is looking to create these empowering bonds not only with the women in front of her camera, but also the people looking at them – for an image still is one of the most immediate and powerful tools to trigger an audience’s interest.
“Photography is relatable because it can be a realistic representation of another person – when it is in its rawest form,” Sophie explains, “I think the combination of the photograph and the story is what allows the project to change people’s perceptions. I want the photos to have a positive impact, and challenge people to think differently about their own skin.”
“In the summer of ’15 I was in a house fire. My clothes and way of life up in flames. I spent my summer in a burns unit on Fulham Road. My scars and scar tissue continue to change, but I have never felt more beautiful.” – Isabella
“I’ve always had scars for as long as I can remember. Acne scars. As I went through puberty I had irregular periods which made me decide to go to the doctors and they found a 12cm cyst on my ovaries. They did emergency key hole surgery, and when I saw the scars I was horrified. I thought I’d never be able to wear a bikini and at the age of 18, that felt like a big thing. Now I’m 22, I’ve over it and I’m quite open about the fact I have PCOS and I feel like it’s just become a part of who I am rather than a secret. I am more open to showing my scars to people now, and they definitely don’t stop me going to the beach in a bikini anymore.
I decided it would be good to be a part of this series, as every one has scars, and a story behind
them.” – Rochelle
“Shoulder surgery was the only option I had in order to keep playing the sport I loved. It used to dislocate every time I played. I started to hate playing because of the pain. My scars are a memory, a reminder of me having no more pain. My forearm scars – I didn’t really talk about University being a tough learning curve, and sometimes I struggled” – Tave
“I was performing a routine chemistry experiment on a Friday afternoon Nov 18, 2005. Instead of ventilating out of the fumehood, the flames came out at me and a bit of fuel I was holding ignited my body on fire. The hospital workers did not take the heat out of the burns, and whilst being transported to the nearest city’s burns unit I burned for another 8 hours. I then had 3rd degree burns and they shaved the back of my legs to provide the skin to cover my burns. I’ve had a couple of cosmetic surgeries to improve the scars, but finally I just “let go” of trying to look perfect and accepted myself as beautiful in my own skin.” – Cynthia
“The scars relate to different stages in my life, my childhood and womanhood. Animals seem to figure in a few, getting too close to a dog whilst it was feeding led to a small scar on my face, luckily it folds into the creases of my smile (Occurred age 8). I’m now 41, I battled with ill health for many years, these led to scars around my belly button. Two hernia ops, and my belly button is now as flat as a pancake. Having a Laparoscopy for endometriosis should have left no scars, but an over zealous horse ran into me creating a bug shaped scar. The slow healing I now know is due to Lupus, my connective tissue is constantly inflamed, causing sore scar tissue.” – Tineke
“My scar on my hand has been with me my entire life. At age 1, my sister left the iron unattended and it dropped on my hand. The temporary nurse at the hospital bandaged my two fingers up – as a result, they sealed together and I needed skin graft surgery. I’ve had limited use of my left hand for over 25 years. The skin graft was taken from my hip which healed as Keloid skin, leaving me with two lifetime scars.” – Therryi
