On Seeing, A Journal #402

HEAVY, Part III

October 7th, 2020

I have been working for many years on a series of such images. This undertaking is very different from my experience photographing dancers, fashion models and world-class athletes. The subject matter challenges the viewer, as well as the artist, in light of the popular conception of what constitutes beauty.

An artist creates mostly because within his or her gut there is a strong desire to explore, discover and eventually to exclaim. Art critics and art historians are compelled to analyze, elucidate and expound. I don’t explain, at least to myself. I am often asked “why this subject,” “why this treatment?” The answer is elusive even to me. When it comes down to it, I fall back on a notion I’ve previously expressed: I strive to make images that are unique, that express something from deep inside and that surprise and delight me.

In my recent explorations I’ve come to the realization that there is no answer, no one way of seeing such work, but rather infinite visual imaginings that relate to each other.

There are three groups of four images.
I’d like to suggest that you go back and try to look
carefully at only one individual image within any group.
Try hard not to see the other three in that group.
Then do the same for each individual image.
My hope is that you’ll appreciate how each image is
significantly or sufficiently different from it’s three partners
and that each causes a different response, perspective or emotion.