Everything I center my attention on tells the story of an emotional battle resulting from childhood trauma and mental illness. I confront this internal conflict by engaging with candid subjects that directly reflect an afflicted psyche. Each subject offers an opportunity for introspection. The loss of a brother to the raging opioid epidemic in Upstate New York pushes me to dive deeper into its people. I’m investigating an environment that has neglected its young for so long. While a sense of catharsis comes in understanding the people around me, a lack of self-compassion persists. Ever evolving, I am stripped to the bone.

Eliza McKenna is a photographer from Woodstock, New York. She received her undergraduate degree in Film Studies from Wesleyan University and is now pursuing her MFA at Pratt Institute.