I remember a thought I read years ago: “A scar is a tattoo with a better story.” Photographer Sophie Mayanne has created a wonderful personal project that reminded me of this thought. Her models are people with different types of scars, and they share the incredible stories behind them. These beautiful portraits, along with many sincere stories, create a project that won’t leave you indifferent. [Editor’s note: some photos contain nudity and/or graphic content, so viewer discretion is advised]
Many people feel self-conscious about their scars. They see them as “ugly” and unfortunately, society often supports this opinion. Personally, I believe scars are nothing to be ashamed of. They are a reminder, a memory, and they carry a personal story about each of us. Sophie shares these thoughts, so in April 2017, she started a project named Behind the Scars. It shares people’s stories through a series of captivating and personal portraits.
As Sophie tells Bored Panda, she has always been drawn to “raw and un-retouched work.” She wants to see and capture what makes us different from others, hence her interest in scars and the idea for the project. When she started the project, she thought that it would be a success if she only made a difference to one person. However, the project has been growing ever since, with more and more people showing their scars and sharing their stories. Almost a year later, her project keeps having a positive impact on both her subjects and the viewers. A lot of Sophie’s subjects are self-conscious about their scars and they carry the trauma along with them. Sophie says that this project has often helped them change the way they see themselves and their scars. Seeing yourself through the eyes of a photographer can be a powerful experience, even therapeutic, says Sophie. Behind the Scars really had an impact on me as a viewer. There are some incredible stories to read, and many of them got me teared up. But most of all, these photos show beautiful individuals with their unique markings. Their scars aren’t what defines them, but they just add to their personality and individuality. They are indeed tattoos with better stories. Sophie’s project is still ongoing, and as more people find out about it, more of them are willing to share their stories. Sophie hopes to publish a book of the series someday, and I’ll keep my fingers crossed for it. I’ve chosen some of the photos and stories you can see below. Of course, you can see more of Sophie’s work on her website and Instagram, and see more of the project here. [via Bored Panda]
