second sight

second sight

Second sight is an exploration of the art of portraiture. I have shot a series of portraits of friends and family and over each image I have superimposed a second photograph to give the portrait texture and colour. A third image emerges from the interaction of the two photographs but the key to this interaction is that it is random and completely beyond my control. The result is always unexpected. Sometimes the texture will overwhelm the portrait and drown it; sometimes the texture will be imperceptible and almost disappear. Occasionally the interaction will give rise to grotesque images and often the results will be beautiful. But every now and again the two photographs will interact in a completely unexpected way and give rise to a unique image. I have deliberately given myself two rules that restrict my freedom: all photographs are shot on 6x6 film and the double exposures must be shot in camera, something that obliges me to shoot the two images sequentially before I move on to the next photograph. My choice to superimpose the images in camera rather than in photoshop is to ensure that these interactions are fortuitous and not deliberate. If they were calculated they would lose their value, I would consider it cheating, this way when they happen I can regard them as a gift, and herein lies their magic.