Several years ago, I heard Jay Maisel speak about the power of gesture in photography. Specifically, he was talking about light as gesture and noticing how this relates to our perceptions of landscapes. These ideas have stuck with me over the years, as I strive to develop and define my style. While I continue to explore stylistically, recently, I am attempting to explore the subtle gestures of my subjects. It is easy to overlook the position of a foot or the placement of a hand. The simple extension of a foot or the intertwining of fingers are the details that define a photograph. I would like to begin using lights again to focus on the idea of shaping my subject’s subtle gestures with additional subtleties of light. I want to use light not to overpower, but to enhance the physical eccentricities of my subject. This goes hand in hand with the idea of realism and placing my subject in a natural setting. Natural in both a physical and a mental state of being.
The first two photos are Jay Jensen. I owe Jay a lot. Jay let me sleep on his floor for the entire summer while shooting my project on the border. If it were not for Jay I would not have afforded to spend so much time on my self-funded story. Thanks Jay.
The second set of photos are of psychiatrist Dr. Bharat Patel next to the garden he and his staff planted in front of their medical clinic. Dr. Patel feels the garden helps heal the mind and aids in relieving mental stress. I completely agree.
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