Carson Stachura’s photographic practice centers on their close-knit community, particularly their queer and trans friends. With a focus on creating a space where these individuals can express their most extravagant, authentic selves, Carson’s work rejects the traditional, neutral approach of the camera. Rather than acting as a detached observer, the photographer sees their lens as a means of collaborative world-building—an artistic exercise in which subjects are not simply looked at, but seen in their full, expressive form.
Carson’s subjects are everyday people, those they know and love, but their images transcend the mundane. Through meticulous set design, lighting, and visual cues, Carson creates “otherworldly” effects that transport their subjects—and the viewer—into a world of boundless expression and freedom. This deliberate manipulation of visual elements reflects the photographer’s rejection of the idea that the camera merely documents reality. Instead, Carson uses the process as a form of resistance to the straight cis gaze, crafting a visual language where queer and trans individuals can exist in spaces that are not just reflective of their identities but celebrate them.
As a queer, trans photographer, Carson is acutely aware of the power dynamics in photography, a medium historically used to construct rigid, often violent definitions of gender. By engaging with and deconstructing these narratives, Carson’s work actively critiques how photography has been used as a tool to limit the expansiveness of gender. Their practice serves as a counterpoint, offering a space for gender transgression to be represented with nuance, vibrancy, and joy.
Carson’s approach is not just about creating aesthetically captivating portraits but also about engaging in a critical dialogue with the historical archive of gender representation. By drawing upon this context, Carson’s work offers a more expansive, inclusive alternative to the often reductive portrayals of trans and queer identity. Their portraits are not merely images—they are a radical act of reclaiming space and visibility, inviting subjects to playfully exist as their most expressive selves.
In I Felt Your Shape, Carson Stachura creates a series of photographs that go beyond representation—they offer an alternative vision of what it means to exist outside the constraints of conventional gender. By positioning their work as a collaborative act, Carson invites both photographer and subject into a shared exchange, resulting in images that challenge the viewer to rethink the way gender and identity are portrayed in the visual world.
