“Untitled with rope”

This image, I believe, wraps up my long journey of sadness,
fear, uncertainty and aimlessness from the past 18-24 months.

I was asked by a friend why I used a woman in these images
and not a man as these three or four photo series of images are about my
personal struggles with self and relationships. 

The answer is simple and two fold. 

First, art is subjective. 
We take away from a piece of art what we want.  Sometimes it strikes a cord with the viewer in a positive or negative way. Other
times it moves someone in a totally different direction. 

It is up to our past experiences and where we allow our minds to travel as to what we see in a particular piece. 

Secondly, this image, and the number of past images, are not necessarily all about me or my own feelings.  These are more about how I see myself and how others see themselves. 

A few months back I went to watch a few friends compete in a Mudderella held a few miles from my home.  (Cooper’s Lake near Slippery Rock, PA) What a great event! It was even better knowing some of the contestants and their friends/family.  These women rocked the event! 

They were downright rough actually. I have been around their kids for a few years now and I always thought the kids got their determination from the dads……I have changed my thoughts on that.

If you ever get a chance to compete or watch one of these please go.  It is not only a blast but it is all for a great cause.  “Mudderella is a proud supporter of Futures Without Violence, a national non-profit dedicated to preventing domestic violence and supporting those affected.”

Working on a few more ideas I have had for awhile.  These are “simple” ideas. Fairly simple lighting techniques with more interest into the subject itself.  Working on getting 90% of the image finished in camera and then adding a little texture and pop through Lightroom.  

Less lighting and more feel within the subject was the goal. 

Sometimes the mood changes in an instant.