I was asked 4 years ago to take some nude shots for a painter friend, Emma. She had an idea for a painting and needed subject matter for reference. Fast forward to 2017. I recently took 2 expressionist abstract painting classes. One of the ideas that has really stuck with me is to turn your painting to get a fresh perspective. Usually this isn't advice that would work in photography but I was going through my work looking for a different photo shoot when I came across the folder I shot with Emma.
Glancing through the work, I came across something I had started but never finished. Something about it still called to me.
Image as I left it in 2014
Well, it's Thanksgiving night and I have some free time so why not spend it in Photoshop? I tried all kinds of things and finally settled on black and white with more abstraction of the image. Tree branch and water texture overlays were added to the bottom reflection. Darkening the image added more depth and impact.
This was definitely an improvement but the longer I sat with it, the more I felt it was still missing something. All of a sudden a little voice in the back of my head that sounded a lot like James Edward Scherbarth was saying "Flip the image". Oooooh! Now I was excited! I added some more abstraction and here's the flipped image.
I feel like this orientation is much more interesting and narrative. Originally I felt like the person was addressing her problems. After the flip, I feel like the nature of the story being told is more mysterious and may cause the viewer to pause to try to parse it out. It is more unexpected to have the body that is literally coming apart and throwing herself down above in reality than the body that is more whole.
I suspect this is being colored by the fact that I'm currently working my way off of an antidepressant that I've been on for over a year now. It was prescribed for its neuropathy side effects to help me with the nerve damage in my hands and feet caused by the chemotherapy. I would be lying if I said there weren't some nice mood lifting side effects as well. But now I find myself willingly riding the emotional roller coaster trying to rid myself of the last drug I'm taking. Yes, this is the right time and yes, this image is now resolved.
