Natalie Cunningham, Detached (PEOPLE 2022)

"Detached" was created to challenge us to recognise that the surface level impression of someone being unperturbed and self-assured can be mistaken for masking numbness and detachment. A person who is using ice as a mask or comfortably holding or wearing it symbolises being desensitised to both physical and emotional discomfort. The final image in the series where the subject blows the ice as it disintegrates into fine fragments specifically highlights how someone can appear strong while crumbling.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.