Blackmill’s Rain and the works of fine art nature photographer Michael Fatali have fused deep in the grey-matter of my mind inspiring a series of photographs that visualize this synthesis. Blackmill's "melodic dubstep" is rich with sounds and complex layers existing in time, rhythm, and beat. But Michael Fatali's images are timeless. They are portraits of nature that capture the uniquely lit deep colors of red-rock landscapes hewn by the hand of nature. But to understand
the genesis of what I see in Rain, you must look deeper at these images, peering into the picture to the point where all that is left is abstract.
If all you see is simply water, snow, ice, or perhaps a frozen waterfall, you’ll
miss it.
Rain is made up of different layers of sound. Now, I am not educated in music. I am a visual person so explaining musical structure and form is a challenge. However, I’ve tried to capture these aural layers in images inspired by Fatali and show you what I cannot verbalize. By looking at the form alone, and ignoring the obvious - that you see freezing droplets of water, chunks of ice, and piles of snow - what I want to tell you about this song begins to take shape.
In Annie Dillard’s essay, Seeing, she talks about those that were once blind, who had their vision restored. Upon removal of their bandages, some saw shapes and colors, not associating them with known objects. As you look at my images this way, you will see how the droplets are bright staccato notes dancing lightly in the air. Where you once saw rocks, a cliff, or ground, you will see a solid baseline with decisive percussion forming hard angles for the ice to grip. You will also see snow and ice-made stalagmites forming flowing sounds of undulating, changing shape.
The song’s layers contrast and still complement each other as they form one harmonic sound. This idea of contrast is important in these images. When you begin to see the lines between the bright and dark, the shape of the music begins to take form. The depth that is created when the shape is illuminated, the light disappearing into black voids around curves and corners, is what gives us the images we see. It is this contrast between the bright staccato and soft lulling drones of Rain moving through time that enable each image to speak.
Let’s look for a moment at the natural processes that made this. Light, hydrogen, oxygen, temperature, and time all come together in just the right order and under just the right conditions to make what we see. As the water flows, or as it falls in the cold, it solidifies layer upon layer – growing ever higher into a castle where creatures of the imagination rule. Snow gathers making what looks like a soft white blanket. But look closer, you can see jagged edges of each flake as it reaches up and out like a thousand hands raised waving goodbye to the clouds that formed them.
Finally, clothed in hues of light, the frozen citadel takes on the blend of notes soft and warm, cold and sharp. Look to the colors in between and feel which sound is calling to you.
Rain is made up of different layers of sound. Now, I am not educated in music. I am a visual person so explaining musical structure and form is a challenge. However, I’ve tried to capture these aural layers in images inspired by Fatali and show you what I cannot verbalize. By looking at the form alone, and ignoring the obvious - that you see freezing droplets of water, chunks of ice, and piles of snow - what I want to tell you about this song begins to take shape.
In Annie Dillard’s essay, Seeing, she talks about those that were once blind, who had their vision restored. Upon removal of their bandages, some saw shapes and colors, not associating them with known objects. As you look at my images this way, you will see how the droplets are bright staccato notes dancing lightly in the air. Where you once saw rocks, a cliff, or ground, you will see a solid baseline with decisive percussion forming hard angles for the ice to grip. You will also see snow and ice-made stalagmites forming flowing sounds of undulating, changing shape.
The song’s layers contrast and still complement each other as they form one harmonic sound. This idea of contrast is important in these images. When you begin to see the lines between the bright and dark, the shape of the music begins to take form. The depth that is created when the shape is illuminated, the light disappearing into black voids around curves and corners, is what gives us the images we see. It is this contrast between the bright staccato and soft lulling drones of Rain moving through time that enable each image to speak.
Let’s look for a moment at the natural processes that made this. Light, hydrogen, oxygen, temperature, and time all come together in just the right order and under just the right conditions to make what we see. As the water flows, or as it falls in the cold, it solidifies layer upon layer – growing ever higher into a castle where creatures of the imagination rule. Snow gathers making what looks like a soft white blanket. But look closer, you can see jagged edges of each flake as it reaches up and out like a thousand hands raised waving goodbye to the clouds that formed them.
Finally, clothed in hues of light, the frozen citadel takes on the blend of notes soft and warm, cold and sharp. Look to the colors in between and feel which sound is calling to you.
No comments:
Post a Comment