Senior Thesis

My work combines digital and cyanotype processes in order to create photographic landscapes using the human body. I am intrigued by the human form and its ability to mimic the beauty of our planet. Every body is unique, just like the environments that we encounter; however, landscapes are judged based on their beautiful scenic views while bodies are judged based on their flaws. I want to break that idea by demonstrating that bodies create natural shapes resembling the environments that we admire. I therefore focus on the body's natural form and the way it can be transformed through various aspects and angles in order to create images that appear as landscapes.
Using a digital camera, these photographs were first captured in a lighting studio using lights that can be controlled to experiment with shadows and highlights. The images are then edited in photoshop by adding different sky backgrounds to further intensify the look of the landscape. This allows the photographed body parts to blend into a recognized landscape. Once the final edited images are ready and printed on transparent paper, they are transferred onto watercolor paper using a cyanotype process. This process requires UV light, using either the sun or a UV box, to create natural deep blue images onto the material being used.
I encourage viewers to take a moment to connect to their own bodies and appreciate its natural forms and shapes. The body parts in my photographs should not be instantly recognized, rather discovered while observing the work. This project has helped me build a stronger appreciation and understanding of my own body, and I hope that it creates a similar effect for both the audience and the people who were photographed.