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       Artist Statement

       Bask in the Glow 

     In this final body of work for my collegiate career, I combined nearly every style of photography I have explored through the years. Continuing my admiration of Ruin Photography and a newfound respect for narrative portraits, the two styles collided in to an open-ended story. This culmination formed a photographic narrative I have titled “Bask in the Glow”.

     A major parameter I gave myself in the portraiture was the use of glow sticks and the liquid chemical reaction found within them. This prop gives the portraits a fantastical and surrealistic element that not only makes the pictures my own, but also enhances the scene with color and invokes questions. Another parameter was how the models were posed. All of the poses used are references to classical art and some contemporary films. It is my fond respect for these artworks that led me to my concrete concept of bringing them back from text books and TV screens and in to my own photography.

     The main setting of the story is an abandoned elementary school located in Columbus, Georgia; the Bealwood School. This is a heavily deteriorated and vandalized space that holds a heavy air of forgotten innocence. With this palpable energy of forgotten allure, our four characters are introduced. These lost souls, all who have wandered in to the school alone, are confronted with the vices that eventually corrupt them when they leave the space. Addiction, fear, overindulgence, and loneliness are the themes of their portraits.

     Ultimately, my love of cinematography, a well-taken photograph, and a story that grips the viewer are my driving points with this work and for my future endeavors in to the film industry.

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