Process

Reflective Expressionism is about process. It starts with an idea, a thought, something intriguing enough to delve into what makes who, what, when, etc. interesting. It starts with subject, but the human eye has predisposition to make inaccurate assessments of image. In other words, people make assessments based on still life. How often is life still? Most eyes interpret subject in action as being the same as subject being still. It is not the same. The blur you see is real.



I am working on pieces for the North Point Sail Racing Association, and will photograph the yacht race next weekend in Chicago. What is the difference between a sail yacht strolling out on Lake Michigan for fun, and a sail yacht competing in a race. What makes photographing a race more interesting than several yachts seemingly sitting still out on Lake Michigan. The difference is the competition, the energy, the fun of aspiration. Some people will take the will to win seriously, while others will not. Reflective Expressionism is an attempt to provide a visual image of the energy differences in subject that may seem subtle at times, but make a huge difference in how subject is perceived. In this example, Reflective Expressionism is found in the sail, and how it is manipulated to win. In essence, you can see the competitive mind in the sail.



I have never sailed before, but I notice what makes subject different. The same yacht is the same yacht. The form is the same, but, time as the 4th dimension, makes that yacht entirely different in different circumstances. The image of the yacht does not change in still life, but it is a different image when in action. Some might say the image does not change. However, the image does change as actually seen in action. The mind is what gets in the way of interpreting the complexity of different images. The mind simplifies the image into its still life understanding.


© kenneth martin