Photographer Spotlight: Deb Schwedhelm

Deb Schwedhelm is an American photographer currently living in Japan with three children and her husband. In this series, ‘Home Away‘ explores the thought of what it means to be a military family and what does the term “home” really mean when being displaced so frequently.

The photographer asked herself questions such as: What does home even mean to me? To my family? Does my physical dwelling define our home? Through all the relocations, have I ever truly felt home? Does my family being together define home? If so, what does that mean when my husband is deployed for nine months? What does that mean now that my oldest is living apart from us in another country, halfway around the world?

Deb Schwedhelm visually narrates the feelings and emotions that a military family regularly experiences, while being interrupted, uprooted and displaced over and over again. Ultimately, it is a journey – a journey of transition, acceptance and redefining a home away from home. With three years left until her husband’s retirement, this series continues to be a work in progress.

Imogen McGill

Click here to view more images taken by Deb Schwedhelm.