From my Photography I portfolio at Allegheny College.
Project Statement
I decided to focus on the metaphor of 'Fork in the Road' with a focus on the life-changing choices we make with what we put in our bodies.
The middle image is a literal take on a fork in the road. The image comes to a very specific point where the road and fork handle intersect. The depth of field gets blurrier the farther down the road we get in reference to an unknown future. The perspective is very low to the ground to put emphasis on the fork. The intersecting lines resemble how life has many choices that intersect and lead us. The grass is green on one side and dry on the other which mimics the rest of the layout for this project, positive choices on one side and negative on the other.
The two side triptychs demonstrate two paths that an individual could take. The hooded figure stays the same in every photo to create a consistent anonymous character and demonstrate their life choices. I want the viewers to be able to put themselves in the place of the hooded figure to consider their choices. The images are purposely very similar to their counterparts in terms of positioning and lighting. This technique mirrors different realities of the choices made and puts emphasis on the changes.
The first triptych focuses on the negative choices that can be made when it comes to what goes into our bodies. The image of the truck implies the negative impacts of drinking and driving. In that image, the reflections in the mirror and car show how we should reflect on our choices. The direction the figure is facing makes a line of sight that draws more attention to the alcohol and they are looking in the mirror back on themself. The image of the figure buying candy works to say that even the most mundane choices have an impact. With the closed body language, the figure is getting sucked into the sweets and does not put much thought into what they are eating. Finally, the cigarette box in the hands represents the addictive nature of some choices that act as a huge fork for many people. The darker negative space and underexposure add to the intensity of this choice and make the viewer rethink the choices that lead to addiction.
The second triptych focuses on more positive choices. In the truck image, the figure is drinking a soda instead of alcohol, and the mirror and reflections are less intense. The figure is no longer looking at the drink or the mirror and instead is focused on driving. The next image of buying vegetables is similar to the other store image except the body posture is more open and thoughtful. The lighting on the vegetables themselves is also more enticing than that of the candy. Finally, in the last image, I replaced the cigarettes with mints. Mints are a common substitute for a nicotine addiction and symbolize an alternative to smoking creating a more hopeful tone.