Reconstructing the past

I use photography to explore the impact of missing family photos, reconstructing lost histories and examining how they shape identity.

My work is deeply rooted in my own experience of growing up with a fragmented family history. Many of our photographs were kept from me, leaving gaps in my understanding of who I am and where I come from. When I finally found these missing pieces, I discovered a story full of holes – especially when it came to my father's side.

This sparked a fascination with the power of family photographs. There's something about holding a printed picture in your hand, unlike scrolling through images on a phone. Printed photos feel real, permanent. They spark conversations, connect you to the past, and help you build a story with others, not just by yourself.

Photography became a way to explore these ideas. I dig through old photos, take self-portraits, and even try to recreate those missing moments, like I'm piecing together a puzzle. It's my way of reclaiming those lost pieces of myself and understanding how those images – or their absence – shape who I am.

More than anything, I want my work to resonate with others. We all have those hidden stories, those missing pieces in our family history. I want to inspire people to look for them, to understand how these images shape our identity, and to see the power of photography in telling our stories.

© Diana Salomon - Image from the Reconstructing the past photography project
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"Nos Parecemos" A quiet moment of reflection, where the past lingers just behind her, revealing connections once thought unseen. Digital image, Kodak Matte finish 48"x60"

© Diana Salomon - Image from the Reconstructing the past photography project
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"Nos Parecemos 2" A gaze that bridges time, uncovering resemblances that quietly shape identity and memory. Digital Image, Kodak Matte Paper 48"x60".

© Diana Salomon - Image from the Reconstructing the past photography project
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"Nos Parecemos 3" The interplay of presence and absence, where family likenesses emerge in unexpected ways. Digital Image, Kodak Matte Paper 48"x60".

© Diana Salomon - Image from the Reconstructing the past photography project
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"Yo Y Yo" Revisiting a childhood moment captured in black-and-white dots, this image blurs the line between past and present, embodying the cyclical nature of memory and identity. Digital Image, Kodak Matte Finish 48"x60"

© Diana Salomon - Image from the Reconstructing the past photography project
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"Mama, Papa, Y Yo" I was not in this original image, but I wondered what it would be like to be in this staged happy moment, especially since I knew my parents were far from happy together. Digital Image, Kodak Matte Print 48"x60".

© Diana Salomon - Image from the Reconstructing the past photography project
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"Abuela Y Yo" I never knew you, but I heard you were a force. I wonder is that where I get it from? Would I listen to the same music, wear the same clothes, or carry myself as you did? Digital Image, Kodak Matte Finish, 48" x60".

Reconstructing the past by Diana Salomon

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