Soft Return
2021
“Soft Return holds a particularly meaningful place in my body of work because it was created during a time when I was slowly blossoming into myself as a woman and as an artist. I was learning to see myself with new tenderness – to trust my instincts, embrace my changing identity, and reconnect with parts of myself that had been waiting to emerge. There was something quiet but profound happening within me during this period, a sense that I was becoming more fully myself for the first time. I titled the photograph Soft Return because it felt like a gentle coming home.
Shot on 35mm film, the image carries the atmosphere of that transformation. It feels both delicate and alive, much like the experience of discovering who I was becoming. For nearly five years, I had lost the original negatives and thought I might not find them again. When I unexpectedly found them tucked away in a box in my storage unit, it felt like more than simply recovering a lost piece of film. It felt like finding a small piece of myself from that time and being given the opportunity to meet her again. Being able to restore and upsize the image for print has allowed Soft Return to find its way into the world again. More than a photograph from a particular chapter of my life, it represents the courage to recognize myself, to embrace change, and to trust the person I was becoming. -Kayla Varley”
Reproduced Directly from the Original Negative or Digital Source.
About Kayla Varley
Kayla Varley is an American director and photographer based in Los Angeles.
Varley was born in Bakersfield, CA. At a young age she was given a tiny camera and began to document her teenage life. Growing up in a small town without many options for creative outlets, taking pictures quickly became all she wanted to do. Over the years she developed a signature style that is playful, personal and eternally youthful.
Varley’s work explores themes of intimacy and connection between humans. Her pictures convey an emotional quality through color, the physical expression of her subjects, and kinetic movement. For Varley, her photography is about finding joy in the unexpected, and the magic that happens when you connect with another person. She has an eye for unique and diverse beauty and a knack for gaining the trust of her subjects quickly and with ease.
Printing
Highly detailed, brightly colored, fine art prints made from the artists original prints and negatives, digitally remastered and printed on fine art paper for its ability to create a durable and bright color palette. It not only looks great, but is fade resistant for 200 years.
Framing
Using premium Italian hardwood, our frames are both durable and elegantly crafted to complement each artwork. Fitted with unbreakable Acrylate plexiglass and no mat, our framing ensures your art stands out. With custom options available for all sizes, we pay attention to every detail, from the materials used to the precision of assembly, ensuring your art is both protected and showcased to perfection.
Certificate of Authenticity
Each ATTA print includes a Certificate of Authenticity that is uniquely numbered and signed by the artist verifying your print as an authentic, limited-edition work. The Certificate of Authenticity is a document that certifies your limited edition print as a genuine ATTA artwork.
Hold on to your certificate of authenticity, as it increases the value of your limited edition print over time.
