Lens Culture Review
Lens Culture Portrait Awards - Judges Review
Recently I entered this series of photographs into the International Lens Culture Portrait Awards 2020 and received this very encouraging review by one of the international judges. With thousands of entries submitted by photographers coming from more than 189 countries around the world, I was so thrilled to receive this feedback from a series I feel very proud of.
Hello Rachel. I chose your series to review your series titled, “Mystic Muse”, because I find it visually and conceptually interesting. You provide an insightful statement that says, “Rising with the dawn of the day to anchor in a new paradigm. One where women FEEL GOOD and FEEL ALIVE, right down to their bones and release body shame and centuries of suppression of the feminine. This is about a women re-claiming her sexuality for herself.” It’s clear from the statement and the photos that you were truly inspired when making these images!
You go on to say that, “Standing in her liberation, aliveness, freedom, self-love and joy. May we collectively heal the feminine wounds and receive the transmission of being connected to your essence. Souls laid bare. May this penetrate us to our core as we RISE.” I think you composed your images to create narrative experiences for the viewer. It definitely appears that you are working on making photos in a unique, artistic, and expressive way, where each photo tells a story about the character you have presented in the photos. The subject has been on a journey of discovery and has realized some of its greatest rewards!
I have taken some time to study your photos and I think that your series aims to tell a story, which examines the visual, cultural, and emotional complexities of being a woman. The resulting photos pose questions and make statements about the social rigidity that society places on a person’s appearance, gender, and identity. The photos also talk about capturing a sense of vitality and the fleeting nature of creative energy. This energy may appear in your photos because it is an important element in the way you created the project, but also the photos express this energy being hidden and contained by the barriors we must work to peel away.
The images bring the viewer into intimate moments where the subject’s body positions are emotionally expressive. The movement of the body talks about the intimate connections made when people connect with their own feelings, thoughts and perceptions of gender, sexuality, place in society, identity and mortality. These ideas that you explore are ideas that every person can relate to. Every person can identify with having a body, longing for freedom, and finding their identity on the spectrum created by our culture, society, and gender. For this subject, her true identity is emerging from within, through her costume (what they wear every day) until it is ultimately shed away.
For me, your photos capture part of the feminine soul as she explores profound questions about her embodied identity and the performance of her identity and power. The model’s performances are dramatic and seems very theatrical, as does the lighting. The model expertly performs her roles that are enigmatic, expressive, and resolute. In every photo the she confronts the viewer with her willingness to be open determined, looking to the sky and the horizon for confirmation of her insights.
As far as what else can be seen in the photos, there is so much rich visual texture, color, contrast, and drama in the photos that they seem to me like metaphors for enchantment, mystery, and curiosity about what may be hidden within the human psyche. They also speak about the ever-changing process of life and how nothing is perfectly defined or permanent. Humans have always migrated, survived, endured, and transformed into something new – especially while on life’s journey between birth and death. As a result, we survive by learning how to tap into our inner resources.
One thing you capture really well is the mood of the scene. The entire series speaks about dark mysteries, conflict, a deep psychological struggle that looks joyful, painful, and cathartic at the same time! Your use of gracefully transitioning skin and strong, dark backgrounds is working really well to establish a strong of moody setting.
One thread that I see that clearly runs through your portfolio is a type of luminous, painterly palette of tonality. Your photography seeks to capture the magic that color can communicate, especially with the colorful clothing and the deep, dark vignettes that frame the subjects. I think the way you use light and shadow to describe the subjects in the images produces a lot of visual impact. The photos are very mysterious and inviting. For me, the images are powerful in a group, but they are also strong as individual photos.
As far as exhibiting, don’t feel like you need to be married to the photography world. My advice is that you enter juried art exhibitions and/or show your work within art communities. I think that your images would do well in an “art” environment. Your photos really do cross a lot of boundaries, which is highly encouraged in the art world. I suggest you keep an eye on www.callforentry.org for themed calls for artists.
I can imagine these photos printed very large, to inspire feelings of awe by creating a sense of scale for the viewer. Large-scale presentation could prompt the viewer to feel small when confronted by the ideas of standing in front of these mysterious compositions. Viewers would feel confronted with the feeling of being immersed in unexpected perspectives, leaving them to contemplate the possibility of interpreting what they see.
A second observation/suggestion also has to do with presentation. I suggest that the photos would be powerful in a book. I think your ideas, combined with the photos will make a cohesive presentation. Also with a book, the viewer can hold the images, making the interaction more personal. You just need a lot more photos! You could also use the title of the series as the title for the book! Since you were in publishing…you are probably thinking about this?
I have enjoyed looking at your photos and it is clear that photography is one of your passions! Your images and your project are very thought provoking and creative. They are full of stories waiting to be discovered! I would strongly encourage you to keep pursuing your interest in exploring the feminine mysteries. But, look at lots of portfolios that will inspire you to continue your project. I very much enjoyed looking at your photos and I appreciate the way your images are masterfully considered and carefully designed. I hope this review is helpful and I look forward to seeing what you will do next!
