Mundane Materials in Reflection
Photography has the strength as an art medium to crop and focus the view to a specific detail or object. By limiting what is viewed, an object can become more important than previously thought. It often takes a cropped photograph to force the eye to notice the beauty in the mundane and insignificant environment. This change in perspective is one of my favorite aspects of a photograph... it allows an artist to suggest how to look at something.
Monochrome Water Reflections around the Mundane, 2021. Van Dyke Brown print.
These images show two common and materials presented in an uncommon place and position. While water and it's reflective quality is seen daily, the geometry of a rippling surface still holds universal qualities of beauty that can be impactful. The technology of cement is thousands of years old, and often goes unacknowledged, but when put into a interesting composition can emphasize it's significance even in it's loss of purpose.
Monochrome Water Reflections Contrasted with the Mundane, 2021. Van Dyke Brown print.
Monochromatic images often limit the distraction of color for the sake of tone and value, allowing the simple reflection and refraction of light to accent the forms. Capturing at a high shutter speed freezes time so that the folds and ripples of water become smooth forms in focus that contrasts with the rough textured concrete.
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