Absorption - (n.) 1. The act or process of absorbing or the condition of being absorbed.
2. A state of mental concentration.
Theatrical - (adj.) 1. Of, relating to, or suitable for dramatic performance or the theater.
2. Marked by exaggerated self-display and unnatural behavior;
Immersion - (n.) 1. Complete attention; intense mental effort
At first glance, these words seem to have something in common: they are related to the human mind and behavior. Intense mental effort leads to changes in our expressions, actions and perception. The condition of being absorbed in a show or performance may make us forget we are in a room with other people and therefore enable us to act naturally as if nobody else was watching. In a space where other people are present, we all tend to act theatrical and build up masks which hide our true thoughts and identity.
Perhaps that is what I wish to capture when photographing the audience at a show. Their true unaltered and unmasked faces when they observe what is going on, on stage. Ideally, I want my images to portray the complete attention of the viewers mind when his/her portrait is being taken. It is almost is if I become invisible in his mind's eye and the person is unable to identify me, due to the high level of concentration developed by the brain.
Bill Henson has managed to do that in some of his images from the Opera House in Paris.
Those photographs will be one of my main points of reference throughout the evolution of the project.
No comments:
Post a Comment