Part A: This was from a series of portraits I did last summer. I was inspired by the idea of using a photograph to capture personalities of a subject. This proved challenging when people are more or less trained by society to smile when a camera is raised toward them. I was not looking for the generic mask that we wear when we smile for photographs, so I followed my subjects around and waited for moments when they were most comfortable and we actually themselves. I also enjoy the ethereal aesthetic that saturated sunshine provides, so I shot almost only at sunset.
Part B: I really admire work by Sally Mann. I love her portraits as I believe she captures such real and raw human emotions. Her body of work involving her family is especially interesting to me as they explore issues of real human relationships and challenge societal norms. I feel I can connect and understand artwork in relation to people much better than work exploring more abstract concepts. Her photographs, beyond being thought provoking, are also beautifully technically well executed with beautiful light, textures and composition. I would love to someday be able to take portraits like hers.
