The photos above are part of two photo series created by Robert Shults. The first two photos are a part of his series on documenting his own homeless experience entitled "The Small Corners of Existence" (http://www.robertshultsphoto.com/the-small-corners-of-existence.html). Created in Austin, Texas 2007; he decided to go back to photograph the areas he used as a temporary shelter several years earlier. The third photo is a part of the series "The Washing Away of Wrongs" (http://www.robertshultsphoto.com/the-washing-away-of-wrongs.html). Although it is pleasant to the eye at first glance this is actually the setting of the worlds largest outdoor human decomposition laboratories, owned by The Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State University. Although the idea behind the photo isn't something I'm looking for, I enjoy the landscape of the photo. The second photo is very strong compositionally because of the lines involved with the steps, rails, and shadows of both. The photo is very busy yet leads your eye strongly through the piece. Shapes are apparent in the rectangular shadows and even a triangle in the middle of the photo. There's pattern and repetition seen in the shadows as well with the large quantity of rectangles crated by the shadows. Since there's so many dark values in the photo, the light really emphasizes the rails on the edges which helps frame the photo. When I look at the photo I feel a bit overwhelmed with all of the different lines, but pleased with the emphasis on positive and negative space created with the black and white. The series itself is suppose to make you feel isolated and alone. Since this is a portrayal on how Shult's life was as a homeless boy it leaves a sense of helplessness. Abandonment also shows in photos throughout the series as well as the fire escape photo above. I like the piece because of how much is going on, but how well everything works together in the photo. I believe the series itself could be important in history to tell a story, but the piece alone might not create as much emotion on its own. The title works perfectly with the photo because whats shown is exactly "The Small Corners of Existence", where to many it may just look like a nice place to pass by but for others it's their home. The home where they many may not see them but it's where they exist. The first photo series "The Small Corners of Existence" is going to lead my next concentration in the direction of urban life and architecture. Straying away from nature a little bit could bring a fresh look on new environments.
Another artist of interest for the near future: http://lenscratch.com/2014/06/alison-turner-vanscapes/
Concentration - 1
The blurred scenery is meant to turn the attention away from day to day beauty, making the viewer look deeper into what’s in front of them. The silhouettes of trees create a more mysterious look on nature, whereas the more colored photos make the scene look dream-like. Keeping the focal point of the photo clear (ex. The trees) was important to me because the viewer doesn’t have to struggle to figure out what they’re looking at, but they have to focus on an image formed by multiple pieces of the same object.