Photographer Dana Stirling’s new book, Why Am I Sad, is a deeply personal collection of analog photographs that examines the complexities of sadness. Shot on a Mamiya RZ 67 camera with Ektar 100 film, the book combines Stirling’s striking visual storytelling with an intimate essay about her experience with depression. Stirling, also the editor-in-chief and co-founder of Float Photo Magazine, brings a unique voice to the conversation about mental health.

‍

‍

Dana Stirling’s photography has always been an extension of her inner world. In moments of isolation, the camera became her lifeline. She describes it as a way to give form to emotions she couldn’t articulate. Through her lens, Stirling transforms her struggles into images that invite viewers to connect with her experience.

“Each photograph became a window into my soul, a reflection of the inner dialogue I dared not speak aloud. And yet, with all my best intentions, the specter of loneliness and sadness remained, a constant companion hovering at the edge of every frame.”      

‍

Depression affects nearly 280 million people worldwide, and Stirling’s story is one among many. Raised by immigrant parents in a small town, she navigated an identity split between two cultures. Her mother’s clinical depression shaped her childhood, casting shadows she didn’t fully understand until adulthood. Stirling writes, “These images serve as something of a personal odyssey… a reminder that beauty and sadness often walk hand in hand along the winding paths of our voyage through life. This is my sadness. It is possible these words will find resonance within you, and if not, perhaps these images will echo louder than any written sentiment.”

The recurring Happy Face is one of the book’s most striking symbols. It appears on the cover and in many of the images, taken across ten American states. For Stirling, these ubiquitous icons of happiness carry a sinister undertone. “These once cheerful symbols… transform into grim reflections of the person behind the lens,” she writes. Capturing them highlights the contrast between the expectation of joy and the reality of her emotions, trapping their exaggerated optimism within her frames.

Why Am I Sad offers vivid, colorful photography that radiates beauty while confronting sadness. Stirling’s hope for readers is simple: “I hope people who see the images smile, but I also hope they will come to understand that it is okay not to smile if they don’t want to, and not be okay all the time. Other people struggle just like them, and that is okay too.”

Why Am I Sad is a testament to the power of photography to give voice to what often goes unspoken.

‍

‍

Dana Stirling is a fine art photographer and the Co-Founder & Editor of Float Photo Magazine since 2014. She earned her MFA in Photography, Video, and Related Media from The School Of Visual Arts in 2016, following her earlier BA in Photographic Communications from Hadassah College Jerusalem.

Stirling's work has been prominently featured in group exhibitions in the United States and internationally, including venues such as Panopticon Gallery and Saatchi Gallery. Her photography has gained recognition in various publications, including BuzzFeed, Feature Shoot, Der Greif magazine and others.

‍

‍

‍

‍