Humans have been fascinated by their own form for as long as we have been making art. I have explored this also with my photography; skin, that miraculous organ that wraps it, in particular - the way it absorbs/reflects/transmutes light.
Nudes of the Renaissance period have been an inspiration and guide for my own efforts.
It occurred to me that humans transitioned from being subjects painted on canvas to exploring their skin as a canvas - an empowering, complex, nuanced and collaborative process.
Simple project concept: Juxtapose Renaissance style & lighting in a simple setting with ornately tattooed subjects. Black & white film - hand color the art work on their skin - frame with ‘museum’ style frames.
Notes as the project evolved:
Nudes of the Renaissance period have been an inspiration and guide for my own efforts.
It occurred to me that humans transitioned from being subjects painted on canvas to exploring their skin as a canvas - an empowering, complex, nuanced and collaborative process.
Simple project concept: Juxtapose Renaissance style & lighting in a simple setting with ornately tattooed subjects. Black & white film - hand color the art work on their skin - frame with ‘museum’ style frames.
Notes as the project evolved:
- Explore 3 B&W films: Ilford 3200; Rollei Infrared 400; Ilford 200
- So many mirrors in Renaissance art!
- Swap mirrors for electronic devices - modern method of reflecting the self
- Frames are hard to find - shoot a frame within the film frame?
- Socially imposed framing - frames we choose - what gets contained what spills outside the lines?
- Float frames with fishing line from a boom
- Frames difficult to keep square and still - not a bad thing actually
- The frames are taking over….
- The frames are photographing beautifully…In addition to coloring the tattoos, add gold leaf to frames
- iPhoto captures during sessions making me second guess the B&W film choice
- Collect tattoo artist info from subjects - respect and recognition
© Donna Moyer Photography