ACCEPTANCE: Looking at the Outside, Seeing Inside
On a stormy evening in March 2023, I came across a beautiful broken branch from a Japanese cherry blossom tree and felt compelled to bring it home.
After some research, I found out the branch wouldn't grow any roots, so I decided to give it a chance to bloom, even if it was destined to wither. The branch inspired a series of photographs documenting the flowers and petals in various stages of life, from vibrant bloom to gradual decay, honouring the complete journey of their existence.
Encouraged by the results, I continued this exploration with flowers I found in the park near my flat, noticing the depth of emotions these images stirred within me. These beautiful plants, like human bodies, went through so many stages - and each one showed clearly. Young plants stood, firm and green, whilst fallen petals shrivelled to brown dust. I took it as a metaphor.
It made me contemplate the feelings we often struggle to voice, the disparity between our inner selves and the outward image we project. I came to think that these flowers could serve as a symbol, expressing what we often find difficult to put into words about ourselves.
To bring this concept together, I started photographing people, trying to capture their essence as closely as possible. I then asked them to select a photograph of a flower, one that they felt represented them.
The combination of these two sets of images led to intriguing outcomes. To delve deeper, I initiated a video series, asking them a number of exploratory questions. You can see what they said below. The answers open a window into how we see ourselves, what acceptance means, and the different journeys different bodies embark on, all hoping the reach the same point of complete peace with the self.
ANDREA
“For a long time I didn’t accept my body.
When I was studying dancing I had to be super thin and follow certain standards. When I stopped dancing I went through a journey of acceptance. It’s up and down and I’m not sure I reached a balance. But I think I made peace with my body. Mostly. I am starting to like it!”
To watch the full interview with Andrea, please click here
ISH
“I've been practicing being gentle and learning to open up a bit more whilst acknowledging the impermanence of life.
As a queer person I feel we have to go through a metamorphosis to be able to learn to embrace ourself.
It's a process where initially most of us hate our bodies and then we learn to feel safe in our bodies, then we feel safe with our own communities and then, the last stage is to be safe wherever you are.”
To watch the full interview with Ish, please click here
KAROLINA
“I chose this picture because parts of it seem to be wasted and scattered but they're equally beautiful.
We think everything has to be perfect but, if you take the not-so-nice parts and readjust them, they actually make for something nice and unique!
I encounter challenges on a daily basis, but I feel if I can psychologically accept myself, who I am and what I represent as a human being, then the body will follow. I am starting to like my physical self a bit more too.”
To watch the full interview with Karolina, please click here
STEPHEN
“I'm transgender and accepting my body has been a little bit of a journey. Before my transition I intensely didn't like it, and I think accepting who I am took a lot of work but it was really worth it.
Now I feel I am in my own body and feeling happy in your body is just an integral part of The Human Experience.”
To watch the full interview with Stephen, please click here
JULIET
“I normally wear colourful things, because they represent how I’m feeling.
After I lost weight I needed time to get used to my body and accept my new shape. I used to dress with very baggy things just to cover my body.
Now I have the confidence to dress how I want. At the moment I feel happy, more confident and I’m proud of what I've achieved over time.”
To watch the full interview with Juliet, please click here
JOELLE
“I chose this specific flower because it was very much alive, but there was also signs of its ultimate demise.
I liked the broken blossom as I hoped it had the most realistic possibility of growing new roots and regenerating.It made me feel hopeful but also realistic. All will change, it’s the rule of impermanence.
I feel younger at heart than I think I look in the mirror, but I tell myself not to care because ultimately this is a sign of experience and wisdom… though impermanence is difficult to accept.”
To watch the full interview with Joelle, please click here
SUMIT
“I still struggle with the concept of accepting my body but I am grateful for it, because over the years my body has always been very kind to me. It has allowed me to do a lot of things, responding very nicely to every kind of effort I asked it to do.
At the moment I am happy with how my inner self and outer self are correlated so I think they are reinforcing each other in a similar way.”
To watch the full interview with Sumit, please click here
SILVIA
“I chose this picture because it embodied the whole part of a tree. There are branches, flowers and leaves full of life, but a few petals are already falling.
It makes me feel that there is some sort of completeness and acceptance of the whole cycle of life. A beginning and an ending.
Lately I am trying to improve on accepting myself, mostly trusting my body and my feelings, giving myself the chance to follow my gut a bit more.
I feel I am on a journey towards accepting the whole cycle inside of me, it includes all my fragilities, all my strengths!”
To watch the full interview with Silvia, please click here
VIOLETTA
“Looking at that picture made me think “this is me” because there's quite a lot of freshness in it but, at the same time, it has already started growing a bit old and that's how I feel when I look at my body sometimes.
Accepting my body was a hell of a ride!
In my teenage years I had an eating disorder and after that there has been a very long, very intense recovery process where I tried to figure out what my feelings are and why I project them onto my body.”
To watch the full interview with Violetta, please click here
ISHMAEL
“Sometimes we don't see ourselves in the world except in specific moments where we really feel who we are - for me I achieve this through movement and dance - I feel that this is the body that I own and that I love.
I can control it, I can move it in ways that people don't expect and it makes me feel good.
I also found that when I'm out in nature I feel I’m where I'm supposed to be. It doesn’t matter what people see or think of me, when I am outside I feel I simply exist, no matter what.”
To watch the full interview with Ishmael, please click here
Giulia Paratelli is a freelance photographer based in London. Her career began at the age of 23, when she worked as a freelance photojournalist for various local newspapers and magazines, and initiated multiple collaborations with festivals, concerts, events, universities, and theatres in Italy.
In October 2019, she relocated to London to pursue new goals and expand her experience. After gaining six months of experience as a product photographer at the auction house Bonhams in Knightsbridge, Giulia decided to return to what she loves most: photographing people.
She is currently working as a theatre photographer while undertaking editorial projects with the aim of making a positive impact and contributing to a better world.
For more information about Giulia and her work, please visit her website
To stay up to date with Giulia and her projects, follow her on Instagram