“Enchanted Structures: A Visual Ode”

My aspiration is to transport viewers into a realm of wonder and contemplation. When they engage with my photographs, I desire for them to be whisked away from the mundane and into a space where structures seem to tell stories of a bygone era or a fantastical world. The images should evoke a sense of curiosity and awe, much like stumbling upon a hidden, ancient cathedral deep in a forest or a mysterious, illuminated pavilion in a dream – like setting. I want the audience to feel a blend of fascination and a gentle pull towards introspection, as if they are peering into a world that is both familiar and yet magically different.

I am greatly influenced by the work of Greg Lynn. His architectural renderings often break the boundaries between the real and the imagined, infusing structures with a sense of fluidity and otherworldliness. Lynn’s designs play with form and light in ways that make buildings seem alive and in motion. In my photography, I aim to capture structures in a similar light, exploring how they can seem to transcend their physicality. For example, by using unique angles and lighting, I want to make a simple brick building look like a portal to another dimension.

I also draw inspiration from the works of Hiroshi Sugimoto. His seascapes and interior photographs, particularly his series of theater and museum interiors, have a timeless quality. Sugimoto’s long – exposure techniques create a sense of stillness and continuity, as if time has been suspended. I will study his approach to understand how to capture the essence of structures in a way that makes them feel eternal and detached from the normal passage of time. This will help me in my quest to make the structures in my photos seem like relics from a different, more magical timeline.

My message is that structures are not just inanimate objects but vessels of history, emotion, and untold stories. To convey this, I will focus on dramatic lighting, both natural and artificial. I’ll seek out moments when the light creates strong contrasts, such as the way sunlight streams through a stained – glass window in an old church, casting vivid colors and intricate patterns on the surrounding walls.

In terms of techniques, I’ll use long exposures to capture the movement of light, whether it’s the twinkling of city lights around a skyscraper or the soft glow of lanterns around a traditional building. This will add a sense of dynamism to the otherwise static structures. I’ll also experiment with different focal lengths, using wide – angle lenses to capture the grandeur and context of a structure within its environment, and telephoto lenses to isolate and magnify specific details, like the ornate carvings on a facade or the play of shadows on a wall. The subjects of my photographs will range from grand architectural masterpieces to humble, overlooked buildings, all with the aim of revealing their hidden beauty and the magic that lies within their forms.