I was going to write about something else today... I don't know what, but not this. I have missed the writing, looking through my pictures, finding something to say that is just for me.
Have you heard of Photojojo? I get their e-newsletters and more often than not they have something cool to share about photography and digital art. Today their "news" was about Richard Renaldi and a project he did about touching. I am interested in photographing people and seeing the "them" in the picture. It is something that I haven't done much of, but would like to. I also have always been a bit touch-phobic. I am not sure why, but I feel more comfortable with a large "body bubble" and I don't like "close talkers" and acquaintances who insist on hugging. Having children was a major breakthrough for me. They don't really acknowledge those kinds of personal space limits. My kids have helped me to feel OK about people being in my space and touching me.
BACK to this project... he asks strangers to take a portrait together with the caveat that they must touch in some way. When I read that I was, at once repulsed and intrigued. I went and looked at his pictures and WOW... I found them quite striking and thought provoking. I also found myself wondering which of the people in the pictures knew each other beforehand and which were the stranger, what they thought of the project, taboos about touching. I am sure I will think about it much more.
I like that. Hope it makes you think too.
JMB
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5 comments:
I like touching you ;) Lol HAHAHAHA
A touching post, Jessica (nyuck, nyuck). The photo project was intriguing. I was amazed by the intimacy of some of the portraits. Holding hands is one thing, but hugging a bikini clad body or snuggling up to a bare chested stranger is quite another. I loved the photos of incongruous couples ~ people who might pass one another on the street but never have an actual encounter. But then, that was the point of the project. It also amazed me how relaxed and natural some of the photos looked, as if the people were longtime friends or family or lovers. I wonder how many frames the photographer had to shoot to achieve that level of authenticity?
I liked that some people looked so awkward and others looked like they do that sort of thing everyday and that they were old friends. Some of the punky kids looked especially nice and casual touching their strangers.
I especially liked the name photojojo....that reminds me of the singer jojo...."get out right now, this is the end of you and me..." I would have to ask Jon about the rest of those lyrics and he ain't home.
PS: I remember the days when a touch from me would follow a punch from you....
Okay, I feel another punch coming on...maybe that is why it is not called "Touching your siblings". Perhaps that would turn into "Sibling combat" which is a whole other message that I don't think this artist was looking for. Okay, back to mi studies. I could go on and on about this touching thing.
I enjoyed those photos. Would never have known some of those shots were of strangers - they seemed intimate (the bare-breasted woman in particular springs to mind). I have to admit I'm a hugger. I love hugging people, I do. But strangers? hmm, don't know if I could go that far. I'm on a photo kick right now (new camera today!!!) so I'll check out the photojojo.
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