The Rorschach-series of the New York photographer Sarah Anne Ward refers to her personal struggle to accept PMS. ‘Being a feminist, I never wanted to believe that something like this exists. I thought it was a typical Westernised cultural phenomenon. Until I started experiencing the symptoms for myself.’

Ward specialises in culinary photography. She works for magazines such as Esquire, Food & Wine, La Cucina Italiana, Martha Stewart and The New York Times Magazine. When Ward isn’t photographing commissioned assignments, she travels the world or shoots personal projects, like the Rorschach-series.

The name of the series refers to the famous psychological inkblot test that was introduced in 1921 by the Swiss psychologist Hermann Rorschach. Patients were evaluated based on their perceptions of inkblots. The stains on the photos have therefore been made by using red ink. Ward shot the series in her home – the feet on the picture are her own.

April is PMDD Awareness Month. Organizations around the world work to raise awareness and advocate change for those affected by Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder.

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See also:
There will be blood
Selfie 2.0
Tampon chandelier
Red Flag
On My Period