lushly
This photograph was made in Little Elm, TX. I created a tableaux maquette and then photographed twelve frames with my Canon 5D Mark II (150mm macro zoom lens at...
Read more
This photograph was made in Little Elm, TX. I created a tableaux maquette and then photographed twelve frames with my Canon 5D Mark II (150mm macro zoom lens at f2.8, 1-4 sec., ISO 100) and then seamlessly stitched them together.
This photo was an experiment as part of my earths series. For this image, I decided to go with a shallow depth of field to metaphorically blur the lines between image and reality. The inspiration for this image comes from my curiosity to question reality by creating it.
Everyone has his or her own idea of reality. Some realities are physical, some are mental, chemicals distort some, and some are but a mere perception based on a plethora of factors. All, however, are constructs of our minds to some degree. These fictional photographic worlds are not discovered, but rather a constructed utopia of reality. I collect botany and minerals from all over the country during meditative nature walks. In an act of exotic displacement, pieces of this botanic trove are assembled to create maquettes. Where life ends, it is repurposed for another to begin with identity and function. A dialogue between nature mort and human intervention conspires with environmental, spiritual, and esoteric undertones. Images and ephemeral flora are montaged and juxtaposed to produce static theatrical compositions that remain still in time. I digitally brush using a surreal color pallet, contrasted tones, and palpable simulated textures. My painterly process produces fabricated uncanny escapist landscapes. The familiar is cloaked among the unfamiliar in an odd reversed relative scale. Irony is pushed through the use of a manufactured reality in order to understand the physical reality that surrounds us. Philosophy and psychology wrestle in this otherworldly space. Since this does not depict a purely physical reality, the rules of engagement of an assumed reality do not apply, much like the dream world. Inclusions of creatures from the animal kingdom in my tableaus activate the environment to curiously hover between phantasy and reality. This allows viewers to become more involved and engaged, as they locate these visual clues hidden throughout the image. These worlds exist where fact and fiction melds in the shadow of believable and credible photography. As the spectator is questioning the truth and reality of my work, I invite the viewer to question his or her own fragile reality.
Read less
This photo was an experiment as part of my earths series. For this image, I decided to go with a shallow depth of field to metaphorically blur the lines between image and reality. The inspiration for this image comes from my curiosity to question reality by creating it.
Everyone has his or her own idea of reality. Some realities are physical, some are mental, chemicals distort some, and some are but a mere perception based on a plethora of factors. All, however, are constructs of our minds to some degree. These fictional photographic worlds are not discovered, but rather a constructed utopia of reality. I collect botany and minerals from all over the country during meditative nature walks. In an act of exotic displacement, pieces of this botanic trove are assembled to create maquettes. Where life ends, it is repurposed for another to begin with identity and function. A dialogue between nature mort and human intervention conspires with environmental, spiritual, and esoteric undertones. Images and ephemeral flora are montaged and juxtaposed to produce static theatrical compositions that remain still in time. I digitally brush using a surreal color pallet, contrasted tones, and palpable simulated textures. My painterly process produces fabricated uncanny escapist landscapes. The familiar is cloaked among the unfamiliar in an odd reversed relative scale. Irony is pushed through the use of a manufactured reality in order to understand the physical reality that surrounds us. Philosophy and psychology wrestle in this otherworldly space. Since this does not depict a purely physical reality, the rules of engagement of an assumed reality do not apply, much like the dream world. Inclusions of creatures from the animal kingdom in my tableaus activate the environment to curiously hover between phantasy and reality. This allows viewers to become more involved and engaged, as they locate these visual clues hidden throughout the image. These worlds exist where fact and fiction melds in the shadow of believable and credible photography. As the spectator is questioning the truth and reality of my work, I invite the viewer to question his or her own fragile reality.
Read less
May, 2014Views
1191
Likes
Awards
Zenith Award
Creative Winter Award
Curator's Selection
Legendary Award
2020 Choice Award
Top Shot Award
Member Selection Award
Featured
Staff Winter Selection 2015
Contest Finalist in Distortion Photo Contest by Focal Press and Lensbaby
Peer Award
Superb Composition
Absolute Masterpiece
Outstanding Creativity
Top Choice
All Star
Magnificent Capture
Superior Skill
Top Ranks
Top 20 rankTop 20 rank week 1
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 1
Top 30 rank
Categories
sarahallegra
August 06, 2014
This is so gorgeous! It feels like I've stepped into a dream. Congratulations on your win!
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Discover more photos See all
Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was shot in Little Elm, TX, a suburb north of Dallas where the urban land is disappearing as a result of urban sprawl.Time
This was photographed around 10-11pm at night. How so, you may ask? This is a tableaux. This landscape was assembled and constructed on a four-foot long tabletop. At the time, I was living in a duplex nestled in a trailer park with my two young boys and nearly born girl (now I have four). I partitioned a space in my garage to act as a studio. I had to get the little to sleep before I could have alone time to sneak off to the garage to perform magic.Lighting
As much as I appreciate expensive lighting equipment, I typically use either window light or lo-tech lighting sources due to finances. This one, however, I used a mono-light with a soft box, double-diffused. Funny thing though, I didn't use the strobe. I only used the soft modeling light for this composition.Equipment
For this shot, I used my Canon 5D Mark II with a 150mm Sigma macro lens. I had to set this on a Manfrotto tripod since I was shooting at 1/4 sec at f2.8. This is part of the way I'm achieving this shallow depth-of-field.Inspiration
I found myself subconsciously collecting found objects in nature due to different qualities and characteristics, as they called to me. I often consider the degradation of our Earth and environment. I felt like I was from another world or time, sent here to collect specimens to preserve elements of place, time, and beauty. While cleaning my studio, I found that these objects find their way together to reconstruct landscapes. I allowed them to do what they desired. I began to recompose the land and recreate new Earths.Editing
This is almost a straight and natural photograph, however, I did shoot many shots and digitally stitched them together to achieve a huge high-resolution print file. Other than that, I don't believe there is any post.In my camera bag
When shooting digitally, I grab my bag on the go containing: Canon 5D Mark II body, Sigma 150mm macro lens, Canon 24-70mm macro lens, Gary Fong diffuser, Canon wireless shutter remote, and Canon 600EX-RT speedlite.Feedback
In situations like this, a tripod is a must if either shooting in low-light or digitally stitching. When you create a world of your own, there are limitless possibilities. Depending on the scenario that you create, you then must adapt to the situation. Still life / tableau photography can be an excellent choice for control freaks, perfections, and creatives who like to make a photograph rather than taking one.
