Night Lights
Growing up I spent a lot of time traveling to see my extended family, there are many memories of looking out the window of my family’s vehicle watching as cars pass by. As I have gotten older and started road tripping more on my own, I discovered I have Astigmatism. This is a condition within my eyes that causes lights to be flared and blinding the darker it becomes in the environment around me. It has become an obstacle I have to push through every time I drive at night, due to how much light is emitted from oncoming traffic. In my series Night Lights, I use long exposure photography as a tool to take back control and reshape light to emphasize the unexpected experiences that come from traveling.
I journey to each location with a general idea of how my photos will look, however, I know that something unexpected will occur. Similar to when a person is on a road trip, they know how to get to their destination, but they may run into an interruption along the way that causes a pause in their voyage. To demonstrate this aspect, I use freeway overlooks to capture the light omitted from the cars that drive pass. Interruptions with the car lights are expected in order to give each photo its personality. I utilize handheld light sources and models listening to their favorite music as another way to emphasize the individuality of a person’s journey. My models are given the freedom to play around with their chosen light source while listening to their everyday music to create abstract drawings of light. In giving this freedom I am comparing the uniqueness of the drawings and their music to their personality and how they travel.
The technique of long exposure reminds me of the literal definition of the word photograph, meaning “drawing with light”. Which stems from the Greek word’s “photo” meaning light, and “graph” meaning drawing. With my Astigmatism and this definition in mind, I am reshaping the light that once blinded me to highlight the unforeseen adventures that come from traveling.
-Cyann Lillevold