LENSCULTURE REVIEW - BODY DISTORTION
I submitted my series of Body Distorted Chapter 3 to LensCulture Emerging Awards 2017. I may not win but I obtained a finely written review for my series.
ACT IIIFACADE
These are the images that I submitted for the series and the following is the review that I received.
I chose your portfolio for review because it’s visually interesting. I have taken some time to study your photos, looking for visual clues that point to the ideas of the ways the “human body is fascinating and unpredictable, fragile yet durable”. In your statement you talk about how the series can be seen as , “an exploration of an elegant abstraction of the human body and also blending into mundane environments with other objects which we associate that they are part of them.” I totally get those ideas of the body from the photos. On the surface these images have a type of visual simplicity that focuses on a single body in a scene. There is a clear distinction made between the body and its environment. In that way they are simple, but I find them to be conceptually complex! To me, the photos are interesting because they are mysterious.
Nudes are difficult for many photographers to look at. Not because they are uncomfortable with seeing bodies, but because most images are cliché and anyone that looks at fine art photography regularly sees the exact same images over and over to point of boredom. I’m happy to see that your photos do not fit in this category and I believe there are three reasons for this. First is the fact that the images are well crafted and, secondly, the black and white strengthens their presentation. Lastly, the poses that the body are in are very creative and unique. The model’s presentation is expressive, yet uncomfortable. The model twists, turns, and contorts every part of his body, in an almost performative way. One of the things these images communicates to me has to do with is how uncomfortable and extraordinary the body can be.
As far as where I might suggest you go from here…your work is masterfully executed in the way your subject matter and the use of black and white helps bind the series together. My observation/suggestion is that you think about the use of a square format in addition to the rectangle. In my opinion, some of these photos could be strengthened compositionally by cropping them into squares. For example, numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 9 could be square. Cropping would take out some of the space that isn’t contributing as much as the other areas in the images. It would also help condense and intensify the atmosphere/mood in the images. It will also allow the viewer to participate more by giving them more space to imagine what might be outside the frame (which the mind will run with!). Even as you do other projects, consider using the square format…it may be a more useful format for you. Just consider, as an experiment, masking your viewfinder into a square and see how it works for you.
I also suggest you look a the work of Sally Mann and Jan Saudek, if you haven't already.
I know you want to get your photos out there and by entering this show is one of them! Another way is to attend workshops with photographers that are interested in the same subject matter. Networking helps a lot! I will make some suggestions at the end of this review.
Your images are very dynamic. They are full of life and mystery! Photographing nudes in complex environments can be a very exciting practice. I would strongly encourage you to keep pursuing this idea. But, look at lots of portfolios and really challenge yourself to do something unique, that you haven’t seen. I very much enjoyed looking at your photos and thinking about the ways they express your ideas. I appreciate the way your images are masterfully considered and carefully designed. I can’t wait to see what you will do next!
Additional Recommendations
Recommendations for Gaining Exposure
Other Resources
Books (monographs)
Photo Competitions (general & other)
LensCulture Exposure Awards
LensCulture Emerging Talent Awards
Critical Mass
PhotoPlace Gallery - Calls for Entry
Photographers Forum, Emerging Photographer
Photo Business & Practice Resources
Books (business & practice of art & photography)
With that said, it gave me some ideas on how I will improve my artistry and maybe extending an installation with this series. I may take a little longer but I am looking forward to that "Eureka" moment.
For the LensCulture member who curated and reviewed my images, thank you for your sincerest review and I will do my best to expand my artistic horizon and create more powerful photographs.
