I Capture Photographs That Reflect My Years Of Depression (24 Pics)

by Patrick Penrose Published Nov 13, 2025

Photo series in which I wanted to depict the internal world of solitary people who symbolize our own unconscious states. These photography artworks are inspired by the years I went through depression, where I wanted to reflect human experiences that would allow the viewer to reflect on their own mental health journey.

I began exploring creative photography about 12 years ago; around the same time, I faced depression for the first time in my life as a way to express my mental state. Photography allowed me to escape into a different world, the one which I was creating, a place, and a story that was lead by me, not that I was led by. But after a few months, I fell deep into the arms of depression and lost all passion for the medium.

In 2014, when I had come out on the other side of the depression and was pursuing a BFA degree in Photography in San Francisco, I picked up the medium again and began to unconsciously explore themes of depression in my work. Everything I created reflected on the years I was living with depression, inspired by psychology, surrealism, and the Scandinavian landscapes that I grew up around.

From there on it has been a medium I use to document our internal world focusing on themes inspired by psychology, surrealism, and our unconscious mind.

My work is very personal to me and has been a sort of therapy to combat my own emotions and mental disorders I’ve had over the years, yet I try to make it as anonymous as possible in order for it to speak to each spectator that will view it, so they can reflect back on their own journey in life through interacting with the internal world of the figures shown in my work.

More info: Instagram | gabrielisak.com