American photographer Roger Ballen has a strong interest in psychology. He is one of the most renowned and significant photographers of the twenty-first century. Ballen’s images encourage viewers to embark on a mental journey alongside him.

During my investigation into the connection between photography and psychology, I came across Roger Ballen; his photos contain some form of collage. His statement that “photography has taught me that reality is an impossible concept to comprehend” resonates with how I view reality in my own work. Ballenesque is his unique, grotesque approach that seeks to comprehend reality through the lens of the human psyche.

An intriguing aspect of Ballen’s most recent work is that it almost entirely lacks human subjects; you seldom ever see a person’s face, much less a proper one. Ballen uses the fictional figure “Roger the Rat” as a way to delve deeply into human behaviours. The character Roger the rat acts in every way that a human would, but in an aberrant, unnatural fashion.

Bellen, Roger. 2022. “Roger Ballen Photography.” Roger Ballen website, Accessed May 29, 2023. https://www.rogerballen.com/