In April 2016 I traveled to Israel, a land rich with history yet littered with religious and political conflict. Throughout the centuries new cities replaced, and were literally built upon, previous civilizations. People all over the world continue to travel and immigrate to this sacred land in the name of religion or for simple pleasure. Israel is a cultural mosaic and my intention was to capture the vibrant life of its people.
I used the camera on my phone because of the portability and the speed it offered in acquiring the images for this project.
When I visited Alaska in 2014, I was in awe of the scope and scale of nature's beauty. Land formations naturally crafted over the millennia. Habitats nearly untouched by human hands. All around life was proceeding the way nature intended it. The crisp, cool air of the region filling my lungs was a stark contrast to the hot, urban aesthetic of the city. It was both sublime and humbling. I felt small. I was lost in the grand opera of life playing before me.
I chose to work in the 16:9, or widescreen, format for this project because I wanted to give the viewer a cinematic experience when looking at the images; a front row seat to the grandest drama ever to unfold before one's eyes.
In "Reflected", I am challenging the viewer's sense of recognition. We find comfort in recognizing and organizing the world around us. However, when an element is introduced that tests our sensibilities, our minds become bewildered and attempt to solve the problem. These images, like optical illusions, are visual puzzles that simultaneously challenge and amuse the viewer.
Throughout the series, the use of the mirror is not to focus on the object itself but on what the mirror reflects. I used mirrors of various sizes and shapes to help create images of fragmented landscapes. The landscapes vary from natural settings to urbanized areas.
In April 2019 I journeyed to the land of the rising sun. Having admired the influence and culture of Japan from far away, I was happy to finally immerse myself in the Japanese way of life, from their varieties of food to their traditions that go back centuries.
All the images photographed were shot with an iPhone 8 with the use of the Hipstamatic app.
