This was a project I worked on my 3rd year of college in a photo class. It was part of a series I did where I focused on the relationships of family members. My Mother and Daughter project was focused more on the physical similarities between a mother and daughter. Where as this one focuses more on the actual relationship between siblings. Sibling relationships are some of the most important ones people can have in life. Much like everything else they come with challenges and hardships. Sibling relationships can have multiple paths; good then go bad, bad then turn good, always have been good, or always have been bad. It is fortunate to have always had a bond and good relationship with a sibling, but there are many where that isn’t case.
For my brother and I, we weren’t one of the said fortunate. It was nothing when we were young, no relationship or bond we extremely disliked one another. There were fights, constant annoyance, me being overlooked, and this feeling of competition between us. It wasn’t until I was 14 and my brother was 19 that our relationship began to grow. We started connecting and now at the ages of 22 and 27 we have a really good relationship. Being 5 years apart definitely played a part in our lack of connection, that big of an age difference back then can make it hard to bond. Of course the older brother wants to pick on his younger sister, and the younger sister wants to always be around the older brother; annoyance of the older brother achieved. However, for us it wasn’t just the typical sibling fights or be annoying to one another. We really went above and beyond to make each other mad because we just did not want the other around ever. When he moved out and went off to college 3 hours away, that separation from him for the first time is when I realized I actually wanted him around? I know, after all that over the years I actually wanted him to be there. It’s crazy how life can work sometimes but I have to say i’m grateful. This is what this series is showing, the growth of our relationship and the rocky path it took to get to where we are now. I guess I can say my brother is pretty cool, but only if says the same about me.