Active Ingredients
Leading up to the second birthday of my son, I picked up my camera to capture the fleeting moments of his goofiness. But while I was building this joyful archive, my own world felt incredibly heavy. I was agonizing over complex immigration decisions, the threat of layoffs, global unrest, and the massive financial risks required just to keep my family in the country. I found myself using these grounding moments with my son as a daily medicine, a simple remedy to relieve the constant pressure of it all.
This series explores the cathartic juxtaposition of a toddler’s absolute wonder against the bureaucratic stressors of an immigrant parent. It’s a vulnerable look at the bitter prescriptions we swallow as adults to protect the sweet innocence of the kids we love.
About the Author
Uday Mittal is a conceptual photographer, software engineer, and parent currently based in the United States. As an immigrant from India, his visual storytelling frequently explores the complex emotional and bureaucratic realities of raising a family across borders.
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