“Final Exhale” is a series of 7 images that explores the interaction between body, color, and how the aspect of water can alter that. Drawing inspiration from such artists as Elena Kalis and Howard Schatz, I was able to develop my own unique concepts and creations in order to further study the art of underwater photography. This series focuses strongly on the sense of oxygen, or lack there of. The fabric further illustrates the concept of entangling and entrapping our figure. Whether this fabric is cutting of their oxygen flow or supplying, it is up for the viewer to decide. In images 3-5, the pure idea of breath is centralized using bubbles. You see some start to form on the pale skin and further expand and grow from image to image. Both the 1st and 7th image really help tie the story together; creating a narrative for our shrouded figure. We are introduced to them in a very neutral way; blank face, disguised features. After the viewer with goes this breathtaking visual journey, it is easy to gauge our figures emotion behind the cloth; and what they were experiencing within those times when their face was not shown. This series was my own personal study experimenting with underwater photography and how that sheer aspect can alter color, figure, sense of space, and overall narrative. The final outcome resulted in me achieving a unique concept with vibrant color and a new passion to further investigate.

Published: May 21, 2016