Positive focus
Photo exhibit at PrideFest stems from ‘need to love ourselves more’
With his photography, Max Woltman always wants to start a conversation.
For his latest photo series, #WhatWeSee, the Albuquerque-based photographer wants to focus on positivity.
From body positivity to raising self-esteem, Woltman’s 70 portraits showcase the unique personalities of the LGBTQ community and its allies.
“The project evolved, because I saw a need for us to love ourselves more,” he says. “That’s something we all struggle with, and we always see the imperfections. We’re all trying to accept ourselves, even if it’s accepting our sexuality or the way we look naked and the way we age and how it changes the perception of ourselves.”
Some of the portraits were shot some time ago.
Woltman also held some pop-up photo shoots recently.
“The photos represent both men and women of all different ages and different gender identities,” he says. “I told people they can express themselves in any way.”
Woltman says the photo series is ongoing and he hopes the hashtag helps move the conversation forward.
“It’s about the human experience,” he says. “And my hope is that this will be a way to create unity in today’s world.”
The exhibit will hang as part of Albuquerque Pride’s annual PrideFest, which will be held this weekend. The photography does contain some nudity and is for mature audiences.
There will be the annual Pride Parade, which begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 9. It takes place along Central from Girard to San Pedro and is free and open to all ages.
There will be floats, classic cars, motorcycles, horses, dancers and lots of excitement in the second largest parade in New Mexico, organizers say.
The festivities continue on Saturday at Expo New Mexico, where there will be food and music.
For more information, visit abqpride.com.