"One should photograph objects, not only for what they are, but for what else they are." Minor White
Photography traditionally records the reality of what is happening before the camera lens. Many choose to document an expansive landscape, a carefully lit human face, or record a special celebration. I have, instead, chosen to explore the infinite ambiguity of abstract photography. Using light, time, and my own physical gestures as my tools, I employ the camera to make visible what is impossible for the naked eye to see, thereby questioning the true perception of the reality that is before the camera lens.
My goal is to engage the viewer by creating an interactive dynamic. Each one of us brings our own experiences and background in front of a photograph. Therefore each of us brings a unique perspective to the work, inviting the viewer to open a door to interpretation, interrogation, and contemplation.
Abstract images communicate not so much through the eyes, but with a deeper part of our being. First the brain attempts to assemble the parts of the image and reference them to some piece of reality. Curiosity then takes its turn with, “What is it a picture of?” or “How was this picture taken?” And finally, after failing to find answers, a sense of wonder falls over the viewer as the brain relaxes, and imagination takes charge, reflecting on the emotions that have been stirred by the spontaneous visual eloquence of line, rhythm, and form.
The technique used draws from the other interpretative arts. While taking the photograph, the camera moves with my body in the gestures of dance. The images are similar to a performance, in that while the subject in front of the camera may be the same, there can never be two shots that are identical. There is a sense of poetry as the sweeping lines and forms suggest a metaphor for a range of emotions. And many photographs are similar to other two-dimensional arts, where light is used as the “medium” for detailed drawings, and complex paintings.
I am also a professional calligrapher, so the necessity of the strength and quality of line in my photographic work is a carry over from my other passion.
In a delightful combination of intent and accident, all images were captured in camera within a fraction of a second, with minimal adjustments on the computer. This intensity of defined movements carried out within a compressed time period, influence both my creative focus and the emotional impact of the final photograph.