In design we created diptychs, the first true project. We were instucted to take two lines from out personal poem and visual represent them. After brainstorming ideas we checked out our first cameras. We were told to take 30 pictures of each one of our ideas using different angles, lighting, aperature, ISO and so on. After compiling all 60 photos we picked out the best 2, one from each and set them side by side, thus was born my first diptych.

Artist Statement for my Diptych:

“waiting while I rise and fall”

“every path was once covered and mine is left for me to discover”.

When I asked for ideas for the the left side of my diptych the ideas I received were as I expected; a balloon, a wave, a swing set, but I wanted to do something with more meaning. A paper airplane stays afloat according to how you make it, according to what you’re capable of, while a balloon or even a swing set only have so long to stay up until they must come down, but an airplane can fly forever[a]. The paper airplane portrays that what I achieve is based on my capabilities; the more effort and time you take in building your airplane the longer you can fly. On the right side you’ll see what looks like a book, and if you look closer you’ll see the lines are crossed out as well as the book being burnt. The line I chose explains how you can’t follow in the footsteps of someone else but instead need to make your own. I chose a book to represent “writing” my own destiny, thus why it was burned and the lines are crossed out. Making decisions shouldn’t rest in the hands of my friends or family, but my own.

When taking the airplane photo I placed it in the tree for multiple reasons. The first because I wanted to see the sun in the background as well as the metaphor of the tree and sun. Both of which fall and rise, the sun with each day, while the tree with its leaves that fall to the ground. I wanted to capture the natural light while making sure the paper itself wasn’t so white. For the right photo I took it outside for obvious reasons, mainly the fact that it was on fire, but also I needed to capture the detail and contrast from the different areas of the book which would have been difficult with lighting indoors. Both photos were macro shots in order to emphasize the focal points of each, the plane and book. I made sure to use an aperture that would not allow the lighting to over power the photo in order to preserve the natural look of each.