Photo Essay: Wombmates

Story by Nathan Barber

Photos by Logan Wolverton

In this photo essay I attempt to invoke the uncanny feelings and lack of personal identity and individuality lived with and experience when I look at photos from my childhood. It took a very long time for me to have any sense of self in my life. This persisted even throughout my early adult life. When I look at a photo and can’t be certain which one is me, it almost feels like it isn’t my photo at all. Because it isn’t, it’s our photo. Nothing was ever mine. Everything was we, us and ours, including these photos. All effects are practical and in camera. The dates and photo credit for the childhood photos can only be assumed. There’s no way to say for sure when, where or who took them.

Baby B and Baby A. Our ultrasound photo projected onto our hands. Talk about identity crisis, there’s absolutely no way to tell who is who in this one.

Nathan Barber (left) and Jay Holloway (right) pose with their ultrasound photo projected between them.

The Twins cast their silhouettes onto their ultrasound.

Uncanny valley. The Twins pose with their younger selves projected onto their faces. The line between “me” and “we” was blurry for about 19 years, until we started living our own separate lives.

Portal to the past. Two projectors work together to create an interesting effect. One projector is staged out of frame camera left, projecting the original childhood photo. Out of frame to the right is another camera on a tripod sending a signal via HDMI to the projector mounted on top of said camera. It’s the same concept as getting audio feedback in music. The output signal is being perceived by the input signal, creating a feedback loop. Sort of like an infinity mirror. A better technical term would be a feedback loop effect.

The 2005 yearbook photo mentioned in the essay. We were about nine years old at the time. By then you could tell who was who. I’ll always get a kick out of how annoyed I look in the original photo. Of course, now I’d love to have more photos like this together.

To infinity and beyond. Toy Story was a staple throughout our childhood. I might’ve staged this photo differently given the chance to redo it.

Two photos blended through two different projectors. There’s a note in my father’s handwriting on the back of the photo on the left. It reads, “Fishing off Old Pioneer Hwy. Aug. ’99 Summer. Stanwood, WA. 3 yrs, 4 mo.” My father wasn’t familiar with AP style. I remember this fishing trip. I distinctly remember being afraid that an alligator was going to jump out of the water and get me. Turns out alligators aren’t common in Washington.

1996, Year of the Pooh Bear. We were probably the best fitted babies of the 90s. Which is surprising because we were dirt poor.

Bowl cuts and oversized shirts. Don’t need the time stamp to tell you this was in 2000. Based on the photo I’m guessing this was our fourth birthday party. I wish I still had that shirt because it might fit by now. We had never been to Myrtle Beach, SC. I imagine they were gifts from our grandfather who lived in the area. I know for certain I’m the one on the left.  I was wearing my iconic Might Morphin Power Rangers robe. I was obsessed with that thing. I even had a matching pair of Power Ranger gloves to go with it.  Photo by Unknown. Most likely my mother. She took tons of photos when she was around. After she left the photos stopped.

Like I said, best fitted twins of the 90s. This is the photo that inspired this whole project. You can say you think you know who is who, but that won’t convince me. If I can’t tell, I don’t think anyone else can have a better idea of which one is which. Not sure why we were in Chicago Bulls jumpsuits but honestly, who cares? We looked super fly. 

This must be what pure happiness looks like.  

Celebrating someone’s birthday. Maybe it was ours, maybe it was our older brothers. Not entirely sure. I do know Jay is the one on the left though. They loved the pink Power Ranger.