Most of the time, we only show the beautiful sides on social media — sunsets, parties, smiles frozen in golden light. And there is nothing wrong with that. Maybe it’s like the old photo albums we once used to fill, carefully choosing which moments to paste in and pass down. Because in the end, it’s these fragments of beauty that keep us going. Summers are never endless — we only get a few in our lifetime — and there is no shame in holding on to them, valuing and keeping them alive.
Garden of Shadows unfolds like a quiet conversation between light and darkness — both in nature and within ourselves. Shot on 120mm film in Central Park by photographer Anouk Brouwer, starring gorgeous Carmen Montenegro, this series captures the fragile balance between what we show and what we conceal, the polished and the unsettled.
Carmen, the muse of this story, puts it into words:
“You see the polished photos, the dreamy lighting, the “face card never decline” moments. You see what I want potential employers to see; my digital résumé.
But when friends say, ‘You’re doing amazing, I’m so proud of you,’ I wonder if they know that’s only the highlight reel.
The truth is… I’ve been confronting my shadow. Sitting with the unsettled darkness. I’m not inspired to share that on a platform where I connect with my somewhat professional network but I do think community should be more than applause for a perfect picture.”
Photography: Anouk Brouwer @anoukdbrouwer
Muse: Carmen Montenegro @_carmenmontenegro
Location: Central Park, New York
