TOW #5 - Weathered Chromes

"The minute I saw those two photographs, I said, 'Oh, my lord, that's fabulous. How can I make that happen?'" - Lucinda Bunnen

     The above image, originally a perfectly normal photograph of an adorable toddler on Christmas morning, is now a nature-beaten, time-distorted work of art. It is part of an Atlanta display titled "Lucinda's World Part III: Weathered Chromes." Lucinda Bunnen, the toddler's mother and an experienced art collector and photographer, was looking through 60-year-old photos when she came across two damaged slides, including the one above. Instead of being distraught over 'ruined' memories, Bunnen saw it as a fantastic creative opportunity. She pursued the possibilities and was able to alter the composition, color, and texture of photographs by elements of water, heat, and time. The slides were transformed from good photography to stunning art.

     The photo of her infant son reaching for a Christmas stocking now displays a real-life version of the "plastic wrap" photo filter. Its distortion introduces an intrigue and supernatural tone that the original photo lacked. It has been labeled an investigation into the relationship between reality and memory (Hansell par. 5). The bubble-like effect changed the central composition to a more interesting asymmetrical composition. The light wood background, mahogany mantel and candy-cane stripes emphasize the holiday setting. The abundance of blue instead of the usual Christmas-green gives a colder tone, almost ghostly, reinforcing the supernatural concept of the whole gallery. The glare reflected on the wall frame reminds the viewer of the reality of the photo by appealing to the relatable idea of dealing with flash photography. The new washed-out areas add contrast and the illusion of a third dimension.

     Though some of the work is done by nature, Bunnen is the original photographer and the controlling artist. She may not have directly manipulated each photograph to build a specific argument, but she compiled the display using photos hand-picked to teach or inspire viewers. The gallery is a result of Bunnen's ability to find inspiration anywhere: "'I don't go looking for specific things… Things just drop out of the sky...maybe if you're open enough to see it, to feel it, to hear it, to know that's what you're looking for, you get it'" (Hansell par. 17). Her words remind listeners of the relationship between art, inspiration, and unexpected events.

SOURCE: "Nature Adds a Psychedelic Spin to Lucinda Bunnen's Photography", Huffington Post