Anna Ladd - 'things i told the internet, but didn't tell my mom' (2013)

In 2013, Anna Ladd released a series of photographs exploring the way her perception of privacy had been changed by her own online presence. Having blogged for 6 years, Ladd writes that she realised she had put things online that she had never spoken about in person. In this series, Ladd pulled phrases directly from her blogs and installed them in public spaces. There is a beauty in their lack of context.

I'm a real fan this series. The images Ladd has created have a beautiful aesthetic - the use of analogue photography gives them a kind of melancholy nostalgia. I also really enjoy the contrasting subjects; the banners' playful and celebratory allusions contrast wonderfully with their actual content, and Ladd's use of colour in the phrases contrast starkly with the urban environments in which they are installed.

There's something really relatable about the idea of living one's life online. In a generation that grew up alongside the internet, it might sometimes seem easier to open ourselves up to a faceless audience. Like writing in a diary or a journal, blogging and vlogging may be cathartic ways to air our grievances without having to answer any painful questions, or face any judgement.

To me these images, while beautiful and thought-provoking, feel exceptionally lonely.

You can find more of Anna Ladd's work on her Instagram, Tumblr, and website. I recommend that you do, her work is funny and really thoughtful.

"I need other people to validate that I'm important because I can't so it for myself"

"It's getting bad again"

"This week I am struggling with self doubt and the transition from iced coffee to hot coffee"

"I still can't sit on your couch without shaking"

"No one else has ever told me that I am desirable with the lights on"