Project Proposal: Hands
1. What:
The concept for this work is the use of hands throughout life- not only human life, but other organisms as well. Though a dog might not have “hands” per se, it might use its paws to hold a bone, scratch an itch, or dig a hole. Though a plant doesn’t have hands, it does use roots, to grasp its nutrient-rich soil, and some have tendrils, that hold on tight to whatever they might find. I hope to create an abstract idea of hands and their function in life as we know it. I hope to show the full range of what we can use them for, and create images that are strange, impractical, and unconventional. However, in each image, I wish to limit myself by having a human hand, or an image of a human hand; the only exception to this rule is if the image is a diptych, but one of the images must have human hands. I also want to explore the things we create, both to use with our hands, and to use as our hands.
2. Why:
I use my hands for everything, and as a biology major, I have been taught since childhood that one of the unique things humans have is their hands, and the dexterity that comes with them. I wish to dehumanize and demodernize them, in order to provide proof to myself that they aren’t as unique and special as we begin to think. I think this idea is relevant to the course in a very basic form, as hands are used for expression, much as photography lends itself to expression.
3. How:
I will be heavily relying on the use of a tripod, and (hopefully) a remote trigger. I will also likely be using my friends as “hand models”, in images where I “need a hand” (so to speak). I will carefully compose my images, since I will have to use human-form hands in every image. I will also probably be utilizing the stitching/photomerge function of Photoshop to weave two to three individual images together, to help create bizarre and abstract situations.
4. References/Inspirations:
Nick Veasey is one photographer that is inspiring my work. He breaks down everyday machines, people, objects, and life forms to their most basic components, using x-ray photography. His images of man-made machines show exactly how we interact with the mechanisms, structural similarities between our own appendages and machines, and how we interact in everyday life. (http://www.nickveasey.com/) I am also strongly influenced by the graceful sketches of Da Vinci, especially in his studies of human architecture (skeletal and otherwise), and his comparative sketches of bird wings.
5. Accomplishment:
I think having to use hands in every photograph, and also challenge the concept of “hands” will help me expand my methods of photography. I hope that it will also help me see photography from a different perspective, and promote more abstract thinking. It will be a true accomplishment if I can achieve beautiful but contrived images, because in the past I have relied solely on chance for finding well-composed photographs.
