Finally finished my first portfolio/project!!! In my model mayhem gallery is part of a body of work I have titled “photo album”
20 tracks (pictures) total... to see the whole thing check out my flickr page
http://www.flickr.com/photos/junkparis/
here is the philosophical idea behind the photo album (i'm a photographer not a writer so bare with me):
First of all, I have broken the color of these photos into three distinct groups so as to give reference points to the lack of (black and white), presence (natural color), and artificial presence (the neon geometrical shapes) of color. My hope is that these reference points will commission the viewer with a more philosophically intentional approach in the processing of these images. With these reference points one should be able to imagine the picture as entirely black and white or entirely in color by mentally expanding upon what has been given. The neon may be referenced as another extreme to which the photo may be taken. This paradox created by these three reference points necessitates the need for a conscious effort when viewing based on an awareness of color and its relation to form and composition, but without giving it more importance than the latter.
The location of design elements within each image are meant to guide as well as distract the attention of the viewer by creating sharp dividing points within the image and drawing attention to particular areas. This creates a second paradox relating more to composition. You can look at the images within the neon circles, for example, as complete in and of themselves. It is easy to focus on what is inside the circles but the trick is to focus on this while maintaining focus of the entire picture. In other words it requires a conscious effort to focus on the whole as a sum of its parts.
As a side note: I have titled the “tracks” of this “ photo album” based on songs from a variety of music artist’s which best represent my feel for each picture’s style and emotion. (track names can be seen on my flickr page by following the link at the beginning of my profile) The songs were selected more for their sound then their lyrics and should not be read into on too deep of a level. If you know the song or find it and listen to it while you look at the picture, then I would hope that it would give you some idea of the way these images make me feel, but I did not have the song in mind before I started the picture. Also not every picture is rigid in the same experimental structure. I played around a bit, some pictures don't have any neon at all while there is at least one that doesn't cut into black and white. These 20 images are meant to be taken as a whole and not individually.
I would like to do another set of pictures in this style but take the idea to higher level. There are several things I would like to specifically focus on. Props, background scenery, and fashion/make-up are all areas where I feel I have much room to grow in as far as my images go.
stylists, make-up artists, and clothing designers please get in touch I would really love to work with anybody who is pushing limits.
models I would really love to work with cool people (especially if you have funky outfits, props, and/or are into doing your own makeup in interesting, unique ways)
I'm also interested in meeting other photographers in the area... collaborate, critique, and what not... drop me a line through here or at
junkparis@gmail.com
