My photo series is titled “Detached”. In these photos, I hope to make viewers focus on the unrecognized beauty of the day to day scenery around us. “Detached” conveys the idea of the lack of human connection to nature. In the series, we see glimpses of the longing attention of Mother Nature which is in contrast to what is beginning to dominate nature. The lights across the river transform into an image of highway traffic and how buildings and machinery are deteriorating local and global landscapes. All of the works elude the concept of disappearance. Every photo in the series is composed in a single shot by using a slow shutter speed while zooming a 18-55mm lens. My process of creating these photos was important because I wanted the photo to convey reality instead of digitally overlaying multiple images. People get so lost in technology or their busy schedules that they become desensitized to the land around them. I hope after viewing my portfolio people will start to look up and appreciate the world around them; as even just a second of recognition can make a difference.
Photos: 1: In the first photo the moon is the focus. The inward zoom brings direct focus to the moon challenging how often people see the beauty of it. 2 and 11: The spinning of the photo may represent the rotation of earth, a tornado ripping the surface, or the swirling thoughts of a person distracting them from the clear view of nature. 3, 6, 8, and 12: These create a fading feeling as if the trees are disappearing. 4: The lights trailing through the photo symbolize a highway taking over the nature around it. 5. Fog of the "mind" blurring the scenery. 7: Some say the photo seems spiritual, but I see it as nature reaching out beyond the horizon for help. 9. The true beauty is shown through this photo except there's a small piece different from the rest as seen in the wood to the left of the photo. 10: Being blurred along with the power plant in the background shows the transition from nature to industrialism
Strongest: I feel that this series, conceptually, is my strongest out of the three being shown. Specifically photos 4 and 7 are some of my strongest in the series.
Weakest: I feel 12 is my weakest due to how much negative space there is. Having a little more focus on the tree and lights would make the photo stronger.
Concentration 2: Seaport
This photo series was take at Mystic Seaport in Stonington, CT. The main focus is seen in different ships or small boats, but there's also other elements of the sea that are brought in. The light house and hammers are a part of a sailers life at the seaport and were important to include in the series. The seaport adds a historical feel to the series capturing the preserved life that the town once conveyed. I personally love the way the water reflected anything in it because of how calm the day was. The colors that stand out also interested me to dray the attention to the specific colored boat against the calm water.
Photos: 1, 3, 4, 6, and 7: These show the larger ship that sailors use to travel on. 2, 5 and 9: The small boats that take the sailors in and out of land from the boats or across small distances. 8: What towns people would see once a boat pulled up beyond the houses and stores. 10: The light house sailors would look for to see the shore. 11: The ram sailors and passengers would board the ship with. 12: Hammers that smiths would use to make tools and supplies for the ships.
Strongest: The strongest photos in the series are 2 and 9 due to the colors involved.
Weakest: I would have to saw the weakest photos are 4 and 10.
Concentration 3: Ghost
My photo series entitled "Ghost" focuses on other entities in the world around us. The light slowly begins to grow showing a spirit getting stronger and more appearing. The first six photos of the white light symbolizes a more elegant spirit dancing through the night. The last six photos represent a more controlling spirit which takes over most of its surroundings by not following a distinct path. By using a long exposure at night I was able to capture the light in a ghostly way. All of them were captured by movement on the ground except photos five and six where the light source was captured on swings. If I were to expand more on this series I would focus on composing a series more like the tenth photo.
Photos: 1-6: These photos show the path that the "spirits" travels 7-12: These show the more controlling "spirit" through the color and the way the light takes over the photo instead of following a path.
Strongest: The strongest photos above are 4 and 10. 4 relating more to the elegance of "dancing" through the scene, and 10 showing the direction I would have rather had more of.
Weakest: The series as a whole is my weakest of the three. If I were to do the series again I would create more diversity since I feel the photos are all the same.
1. Theme 2. how each piece relates to theme 3. Strongest series/photo 4. Weakest series/photo