Elements Schmelements! - First Installment

I’ve been participating in an invitation-only international photo workshop this year. We’re six weeks into the 21 week commitment. And while I’m not entirely sure how I feel about it, I do like what I’m producing. I can’t talk too much about it. Not yet. Which is maddening for me as an artist and a writer but I’m going to play nice.

So the basic jest is this: I’m given a weekly prompt with seven days to create an image which I feel satisfactorily captures and communicates the assignment fully. These aren’t cheesy prompts. I don’t have to produce work representing the color blue, for instance. In fact, I’m restricted to B&W and a square format. And no one is asking me to show them something in my kitchen or interpret a word like “fallen”.

The prompts are supposed ‘elements’. And at this point, not only can I not tell you much more than that, but frankly I don’t really get the tie-in yet myself. It borders on pretentious. It may actually be pretentious. But I’m going to stay the course, finish the challenge, and see. There’s likely to be an exhibit at the end of the rabbit hole, too...based on the workshop’s giver/guide.

Today I’m sharing my first six images. You may recognize a couple of them as I’ve tweaked them for other uses. However these are the pure B&W images and for most of them, the originally intended results...specifically for the workshop.

We get a new assignment tomorrow. I’ll share results periodically. And when the exercise is complete, I’ll reveal the prompts and the bigger picture.

Meanwhile, I’d be fascinated to read your guesses based on my work.

Thanks!