Welcome back to ‘As I See It”

Today, I’ll be sharing the stories of the birth and development of two of my photo series, “Bliss” and “Gotcha”.

The “Bliss” series started with a single image, which became the idea for the photo series. Sometimes, like with the “Gotcha” series, I have the idea for a photo series, before I’ve taken the first image.

The first image that I took that birthed the “Bliss” series, is an image whose scene was found upon a chest of drawers. The image was taken in 2011.

It shows a framed photo of Jesus Christ, a framed photo of a boy, a rosary, and a lit candle. I called this image, “The Two Sons”. Upon further contemplation, I realized that those shown items were someone’s Bliss. For some, it doesn’t get more blissful than the the bliss of one’s child, and the bliss of one’s Lord and Savior.

It was then that I decided to shoot for a Bliss series. A series showing people doing what is their bliss. There are images of people dancing, singing, making music, being together with those that they love, engaging in activities that bring them bliss.

I chose to comprise this series with black and white images. To show the bliss in it’s most naked and visceral state. Adorned by souly bliss itself.

And then there's "Gotcha"..

I don’t recall how the “Gotcha” series began. I don’t recall where or when I got the fuzzy purple handcuffs that, to this day, I keep in my camera case. You never know when a situation will present itself to play with those bad boys. And by bad boys, I mean the fuzzy purple handcuffs.. I see how that could be easy to misinterpret.

In looking over the metadata of the images, I see that this series came to life in 2011. 

The images show the fuzzy purple handcuffs attaching a person to a object. We don’t see the person’s face. The image solely speaks to connection. 

I love the response that I get when I pull out those fuzzy purple handcuffs. Usually it’s excitement, tinged with shyness and hesitation, with a side of embarrassment. Some folks show the excitement, with no shyness, hesitation or embarrassment. 

They’re up for it. They’re down with it. They’re all about it. 

No matter which person has presented themselves, everyone has loved playing with me and my fuzzy purple handcuffs. This is a series that will keep on giving and keep on going.

Till next time,

Be Well