Movie Monday: Gregory Crewdson Brief Encounters

Glorious light, exquisite compositions and a heavy scoop of mood are some of the elemental building blocks that go into the narrative photos of Gregory Crewdson. When I was first introduced to theses elaborately, composed photo images Edward hooper came to mind instantly.

After watching the documentary, titled Gregory Crewdson: Brief Encounters, where I had the opportunity to experience the photographers work more intimately, a few other artists have come to mind. The focused and deliberate lighting of the imagery visionary and influential Matt Mahurin from the 1980's came to mind, although Gregory's work is much more saturated in color. I also feel like the photographs are akin to the shadow side of Norman Rockwell illustrations.

These meticulously constructed photos stand on their own and express so vividly the loneliness and solitude of existence in the modern computer tech world of the 21st century.

He works both on location, usually in Pittsfield at twilight and a sound stage building imagined realities which he may conjure while swimming.

Gregory appears very focused with a quiet, introspective melancholy about him in the documentary which is so clearly embodied in the characters he creates within his narratives. One of the fun, synchronistic parts of his background is that he was a musician early on before he became interested in photography. Here is a video of his band, The Speedies with their hit song "Let Me Take Your Photo", which aired on MTV in the late 70's / early 80's. Very glam rock.

Gregory Crewdson and Timothy Walker are part of tribe of photographers that focus on narratives set in theatrical, somewhat surreal imagery. Walker, famous for his work in fashion, has begun making films. The image above is from "The Lost Explorer" made in 2010 but does not seem to have been released. There is a Peter Greenaway quality to it.

Ebb and Flow

I'm focusing on the positives of ebb and flow today, although, I much prefer flow. Flow being more aligned with water element where as ebb is part of elemental earth. Both have their benefits, its just a matter of where one is standing and perceiving. After all, perception is an act of creation. Oh...and how auspicious, my favorite fragrance lately has been Chiaroscuro, which is all about the dark and the light. Gee, Spirit must be telling me something.

I normally shoot my photos in the early morning and/or late afternoon next to the big window in the living room. During the holidays that spot was taken for the Christmas tree so I had to look for other options, like the studio where the top and two bottom images were taken.

The other day on a whim I did some shots on the other side of the living room next to the big sliding glass doors, on one of the big "fulfillment" tables that were brought into the space in October. So, this is my new favorite spot, which is fabulous because there is lots of space and the northern light is pretty good all day long.

The palette of essences I work is constantly in danger and thus the fragrances will shift depending mostly on what I can get a hold of at any given time. Sometimes essences disappear off the market completely, while at other times its just a matter of hunting them down and having the resources to purchase large amounts.

A huge box of aromatics I recently ordered arrived at the door today. It's filled to the brim with a plethora of essential oils, absolutes and C02 extracts from all parts of the planet. Many of them are to make existing perfumes, some of which have been out of stock, like Aurora liquid and Gracing the Dawn. Others are for upcoming deliciousness yet to be unveiled.

Last night I ordered yet another huge batch of essences. I've been a little in terror at the amount of money that I've been spending on raw materials lately. It's great to get things in larger amounts because they are less expensive and then you have them, without having to re-order all the time. However, I'm no bank. This living on the edge, ebb phase of the year, like winter wears thin, I can't seem to get use to it.

Now that the sun is out, I'm warm and have had lots of good news today I'm feeling much better about everything. Although the ebb phase might be part of the reality at least I can shift my mind into a different gear.

La Luce

As I sat at my drafting table this morning, with the light pouring in from the window, I was struck by the way beauty of the light as it illuminated the bottles filled with jojoba oil and perfumers alcohol. I'm sure there was a clarity to the electromagnetic radiation, visible light, from the recent rain. I started really paying attention to light while in art school, when all kinds of visual perception on a whole reached new heights.

It was mostly drawing, painting and photography classes that stimulated this new awareness. We would look at sources, quality and color of light. How light affects mood and most importantly that color is produced by light. In art history classes we learned about the artists who mastered different aspects of light and color from Caravaggio to one of my personal favorites Rothko.

 When I met my husband Greg he was constantly talking about light, which expanded my horizon even more. Greg often points out the differences in the color of light when we go on walks or travel, noting how California often has the same "pink" light that is found in Venice. Lately he has been turning me onto how color is used in films. As I have mentioned here before the 1998 version of Great Expectations has glorious use of color.



Some of my other favorites include "Amelie", "The Cook, the Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover", and the "The Matrix".  If I were to choose one for use of light I'd say "Barry Lyndon". How about you, which films do you feel use color really effectively?