E-Portfolio
Theme: Showcasing Your True Colours

Gender expression is a manifestation of your true self. This is a mélange of deemed feminine jewelry and masculine apparel. I refrain myself from fitting into the fashion binary expectations and fuse together whatever lets my real colors pour out.

Inquisitiveness is a part of the process. If people stare at you, you give them a reason for it. As I was taking pictures, this not-so-literate man was curious about what we were doing. It was only because he wished to be included that he could be part of our LGBTQ+ awareness movement. While others - well-read people, were dismissive of what we were doing, it was the spirit of inquiry and his ability to accept change in this man, that made him different.

To be able to propagate positivity and vibrancy is what brings me peace. I make use of elements that catch everyone’s eye the moment they see you, like- hair. As a bodily feature our hair speaks of your personality, the way we groom and carry them conveys the opinions we hold.

Expecting everything to fall into place and work on its own is very easy, but is also a utopic dream. What's important is taking the first step. Even though people see you, take notice, and pass judgments, you still impact them in a way. You give them something to think about. That is what it's all about. When people realize you have a point, they reach out to you.

Today's day and age allows people to express themselves untethered from orthodox gender roles. We need to realise that the passion we have for the two polars shouldn't be limited to them. We have to respect the ones that are in between too. 

While it is important to encourage new gender roles, we should be mindful that we don't bring down women who still choose to be feminine. It should still be okay for women to be soft and delicate, this should still be a choice that we allow everyone to make and not bring them down for it. 

Gender is unconstrained. The freedom of expression is something that everyone deserves to have. Yet, the freedom of expression does not always ensure that people will actually listen to you. Despite being unheard, they still stand strong, and breaking through the shells of ignorance and inequality, the members of the LGBTQIA+ community emerge as beautiful as pearls. It’s their confidence and will power that adds the shine to their identity.

Gender is individualistic. To reach the heights of the inaccurate and unfair assumptions as well as expectations of the people that surround them, sometimes the insecurities of the people of the LGBTQIA+ community, force them to satisfy the society at the cost of their own identity. In this absurd process, it is their individuality that gets crushed.

Gender is integrity. Harassing someone on the basis of their sexual preference is a malpractice and needs to be stopped immediately. Queerbaiting emanates anxiety within the mind of a person. The constant discouragement has a monumental impact on the mental health of the prey. The struggle of being as articulate as possible, yet being misunderstood and being given discriminatory labels for something you cannot change or control is unjust and unfair. Gender should be unfiltered because it is natural.

Hearing the word gender, automatically leads us to assume the next word to be equality. Being queer, doesn’t make anyone different as we’re all humans at the end of the day. Gender equality is an essential human right that everyone deserves. The eyes looking in different directions, notifies us to be aware about such rights.

We as humans are free to be whoever we want to be and accept ourselves and others for the truest version of self. We should see every individual through the lens of love, constitutional or unconstitutional, boy or girl, today or tomorrow, in solidarity or in solitary.

Coming out as queer is a pivotal part of an individual's journey. Being queer means being true to our multifaceted, fluid and real selves. We should create a conducive environment for folks around us to share their stories and show their true colours.

This photograph was taken during a cultural mela.  The colours in this image are vibrant and clear. Among all, the expressions of the face really come out which definitely gives euphoric joy to us, when we look at the picture. After I shot this picture, I felt really good.

This picture also has been taken during a cultural mela. In this image, the expression on the face of the woman is so lucid and impactful, that it blurs out all the burst of colours on both sides of the woman. It also gives a smile on our face. This picture clearly depicts calmness in chaos.

I painted my hand with colourful paints because whatever work I do with my hands is of all different categories. My hands are a reflection of my effort, hence I decorated them with things I like. 

I believe paints give me the freedom to express myself through whichever hue I want. So, I clicked a picture of my watercolour palate which contains all the different shades of the rainbow, which I cherish. These are my happy colours.  

A camera sees so much more than one’s eyes. It is something that shows naked beauty, is never judgemental; something that captures the true colours and the opalescent nature; something that encapsulates and embraces the real. My camera truly reflects all that a rainbow is made up of to me!

Rainbow colours are streaks of happiness on the canvas of life. Their opalescent aura brings out your true beauty and that genuine smile. But you know what's amazing about it? Whichever colour you choose, it will always accept you and wrap you in it's serene waves.

I learned compassion from being discriminated against. Everything bad that’s ever happened to me has taught me compassion. I’ve been embraced by a new community. That’s what happens when you’re finally honest about who you are: You find others like you. This world would be a whole lot better if we just made an effort to be less horrible to one another. So be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those matter don’t mind.