Aperture Tag Cast: The Photography Series that Explores Intimacy and Family Ties

Ashley Markle's photography series, Weekends with My Mother and Her Lover, is a poignant exploration of intimacy, family ties, and the complexities of human relationships. The series, which began as a response to an online class prompt from the International Center of Photography in New York, was shot over the course of ten months in 2020 while Markle lived with her mother and stepfather in Ohio.

The first photo in the series, Glimpse of Intimacy, features Markle's mother and stepfather posing in their side yard through a misty garage window. This initial collaboration marked the beginning of a more 'psychological' approach to the project, which would ultimately lead to the creation of 20 photographs that capture intimate moments between Markle's family members.

Throughout the series, Markle explores the intensity and burden of being an only child, as well as the deep bond she shares with her mother. The two are incredibly close, having relied on each other heavily during Markle's childhood after her parents' divorce when she was just four years old.

As Markle began taking photographs of her family members, she found herself reverting back to a younger version of herself that she had tried so desperately to escape. This regression led to a series of arguments with her mother, which felt eerily familiar given their past conflicts.

In an interview, Markle described the experience as feeling like she was 'thrown back into my teenage body.' She went on to say that sleeping in a narrow twin bed and being surrounded by reminders of her childhood triggered feelings of exhaustion and nostalgia.

Despite the challenges she faced during this time, Markle's photographs capture the beauty and complexity of her family relationships. Her use of lighting, composition, and subject matter all contribute to a sense of intimacy and vulnerability that draws the viewer in.

In conclusion, Ashley Markle's Aperture Tag Cast series is a powerful exploration of family ties and human relationships. Through her photography, Markle invites us into her world, where we can witness the beauty and complexity of her family dynamics firsthand.

Aperture tag cast