I start with found objects that have an abstract beauty in themselves and through lighting and composition I try to create an environment in which they become like “sacred” objects. My work is not conceptual; I am not creating puzzles to figure out or communicating a specific idea. Abstract photography is troublesome because, unlike painting or sculpture, you have to start with a real object and real objects always have some symbolic meaning. I am interested in walking that line between meaning and abstraction. I work with objects as a painter might work with color, responding only to shape and texture and do not concern myself with “message”. I follow the direction that the objects lead and make my decisions based on what simply feels right. However, when a piece is completed I do see interesting connections between the objects and I hope that the viewer can can find their own connections. Wassilly Kadinski believed that abstract art can “touch the soul” and it would be very cool if my images approached that.
Technique
All Pieces are made by making a single exposure of a constructed set on a sheet of 4x5 film. I light the set with many small lights that I move around during the exposure which can last as long as 40 minutes. Because I cannot see the image through the camera as I light it the process is intuitive and physical. The film is then scanned and printed as a chromogenic photographic print. I do not manipulate the images in the computer other than color management. This is because I like the sculptural process of handling the three dimensional objects.
Steve Sonheim
2008