“Portals” is an observational photography exploration. 

The original observational photography project was inspired by Lee Friedlander’s images that emphasize geometry and the presence of the photographer. I wanted my composition to have a geometric focus like his Knoxville, Tennessee image and also a focus on light through shadow and mirror. I was able to emphasize these parts of my photographs through making them black and white—color wasn’t a priority for me in this shoot. 

This investigation of geometry led to a lot of internal framing, creating the titular portal that frames a subject in each image. A portal is a doorway or gate to another place, far away. The timidness and lurking presence while capturing the observational photographs emphasizes that distance between the viewer and the other side of the portal. Tunnels and reflections put distance between human subjects and myself, but the feeling of being “watched” is still present as my photographer’s shadow is included. I even find myself at the other end of the portal in some.