Kent Wiley

....in my pursuit of "not pretty" compositions...

publisher's note This from a man who states, "I'm still trying to wrestle my way out of the Full Nelson that pretty pictures have on my photography."

publisher's comment - I have a hard time seeing this as anything but the butt-hole discharge of affluent - or is that effluent? - America. Environmental degradation bathed in the warm folds of smug self-indulgence.

Of course, perhaps I am being unduly influenced by the wretched annual consumer bacchanal of "Black Friday".

In any event, I like it quite a bit, In fact, I would probably hang this photograph on my wall.

Comments

[Joel Truckenbrod]

While I can appreciate this for it's formal qualities, I can't help but feel a bit disconnected here. There's something under the surface that I just can't seem to put my finger on...slightly sinster perhaps. All this said, the "pursuit of not pretty compositions" is a road that seems to have different ends for most who choose to follow it. I think you're onto something here and I hope you keep pushing and developing your ideas.

[Kent Wiley]

When I found this location almost two years ago, I was really excited about it. I was at the time deep in a study of Jeff Wall's work, and so I think there is a strong influence from him here. But there is no judgement whatsoever concerning this landscape. I'm fascinated by the compositional elements. Thanks for your encouragement.

[Michelle Parent]

Kent,
You still have pretty light! There are some really nice compositional elements here and it really does work well that way. There is a formal quality here that really works. It may not be "pretty", but it really works well, to me, with that nice golden light.

[gravitas et nugalis]

I have a hard time seeing this as anything but the butt-hole discharge of affluent - or is that effluent? - America.
Environmental degradation bathed in the warm folds of smug self-indulgence.

Of course, perhaps I am being unduly influenced by the wretched consumer bacchanal of "Black Friday".

In any event, I like it quite a bit, In fact, I would probably hang this photograph on my wall.

[Kent Wiley]

Michelle, yeah there is still that desire to suck the viewer in through the traditional means of "sentimental" late afternoon light. Another attempt made a year later at this same location in the middle of the day and w/ a human subject is less interesting for a number of reasons, but primarily because it doesn't have this "lovely" light.

So we have here a moderately subversive subject presented in a traditional manner. It gives me ideas...Thanks Mark, in fact I do have this photo hanging on my wall.