A series of analog images documenting and reinterpreting intimate tree landscapes using plastic that sadly is so much a part of our landscape today. The goal is to explore how this reinterpretation changes our view of the land we live in and explores the very aesthetics the plastic creates. I think back to the poignant scene in the classic film 'American Beauty' where the male character Ricky Pitts shares his favorite movie he has ever recorded of the white plastic bag dancing in the wind among the leaves. This idea shows that even the most disgusting of things, namely litter, can create something profoundly beautiful.
Camera: Nikon F3
Film: expired Kodak gold 200
What I learned: As disgusting and saddening as plastic is in our landscape, it retains some visual gesture and beauty in both form and color when juxtaposed to trees, leaves and branches. When images are combined in a sequence the plastic becomes like a character in a short story. And in some strange ways the plastic is somewhat ornamental serving to enhance the beauty of these spaces. However, that same plastic can also evoke feelings of "choking,"or "infecting," in a parasitic-like way. And ultimately, one is left feeling quite sad and overwhelmed by the mess litter is causing.
The Results:
