Tuesday, April 28, 2009

all i want


Sarah McKemie's project All I Want has me transfixed. sometimes, when viewing photography projects, i have a hard time taking in a range of portraits that might seem a bit unconnected and don't have a project statement--it can be hard to find a way in. not with these; they clicked for me immediately.

i meant to post about them some months ago, but instead, started bugging Sarah to talk to me about them.  she was incredibly gracious to this pestering stranger, and so i'm happy to share her thoughts on "All I Want" with you.  i think they're thought-provoking and worth the wait:

In my current and on-going body of work, All I Want, I explore the push and pull of intimacy and the awkwardness of desire. Through my series of portraits I play with and examine the fantasies, obsessions, myths, and stereotypes about longing.

I am drawn to the way our bodies tell stories of confidence, self-consciousness, or humility. Through photography I look at rituals of adornment and gesture—the way we create and display ourselves for others, and how we define ourselves based on how desirable we think others find us.

The images I capture in All I Want recreate and document the innocence and complexity of my subjects, questioning the intricacies of sexuality that are undefined, and even celebrate this ambiguity.  -Sarah McKemie

some of my favorite images from the series are above.  i chose them before reading the statement, but now i like thinking about what this slice of images has to say about the myths we carry about intimacy, longing, and desire.

enjoy the rest of the project here.
 

p.s. greetings Blogs of Note visitors!  i hope you like photographerie!

35 comments:

M.M.E. said...

Great site. I'll be sending my boyfriend your way (he's a bfa photo student). I encourage you to check out his blog: http://jeffreyopp.blogspot.com
or his website (which has much more work): www.jeffreyopp.com

virginia said...

enjoyed the photos, and your writing...i will be adding you, if you don't mind.

Unknown said...

Your blog is cool... I always like the ones with cool pictures and stuff, it makes me wish I had a better camera....

Anonymous said...

yeah ... so glad to have found your blog. love your taste in photographs.

Jonas

N. Steve said...

Hey, I really like what you had to say. I think people subjectify me as a person much much too often. Yknow, as a subjectperson. Anyway -

I think he: would be a great subject

http://www.youtube.com/user/howmanylettersfither

ediretnati said...

your photo has high art taste...... I'm interesting og that!!!

* said...

Nice photographs!!

KhanmanFilms said...

Why those are certainly beautiful pieces. You know its interesting what people find in a particular piece. The perceptions are endless and we live in such a diverse world. Everything makes us feel so small!

Bonita-(^,^)- said...

nice blog...love your photos!!!
visit my site too - bonita-purplebee.blogspot.com!
thanks! c yah around

Reyjr said...

photographerie! :D

whaong said...

Hello, I find your blog which is recommended by blogger.com to see. Great, I like it.

lucky said...

wow! pictures are amazing. see you

david said...

you blog is very interesting to read and very useful for me

Unknown said...

I love your blog, or, to be more precise, my Mummy does. You see, I'm only 29 days old.
She loves the pictures and commentary and says it helps her see life from a different perspective.
I hope you come and visit my blog too.
http://verylittlevoice.blogspot.com/
Thanks!
VLV x

Arja said...

I do like these pictures, but I think they could have more contrast both in color and motive..
This is only my opinion as a photographer, and you should listen to your own heart (or eye?)

Anonymous said...

very nice...

Blogger said...

I would like to see more every day photos, rather than posed photos!

subjectify said...

I would like to see more every day photos, rather than posed photos!
you should try Flickr!

safe said...

Great site..... your photos are so thoughtful i will follow your blog


www.amersafeschool.com

blessingsgoddess said...

Super photos.....well done !

Jenny O said...

Congrats on being on Blogs of note!
Your blog is great!

Unknown said...

liked your blog, gave new ideas for portraits !

Hit 40 said...

I love your waterfall picture of the woman standing naked under the water. Beautiful.

Great pics!

Congrats on your blogger buzz!

Blogger said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Blogger said...

your blog is great! http://fartandlaugh.blogspot.com/

Djkluge said...

great photos... love the look, the feel and the rawness http://stopbeingsheep.blogspot.com/

Kirika said...

ghh

Clarity said...

I must say the middle one is my favourite. All of them capture the natural light and mood beautifully. What an interesting blog

Robert Babington said...

Is it wrong that I like how the pictures have caught pain? Venom. Frustration. Bitterness.

I especially like the third one. It strikes in me, the sense that the person has been subject of mistreatment for some time but, there is the tiniest sly smile that almost says, "now I've got the better of you".

A great post. I've been looking for something like this.

daily phones said...

rly nice art blog and photos!

Anonymous said...

hii

Unknown said...

These are great photos especially the 3rd one in the list.

Anonymous said...

נאר א טעסט

steph said...

At first all i thought was "Helen Van Meene?"

but i do like them a lot, her work is very good

Matthew Austin said...

Awesome! I'm glad Sarah's getting exposure on this website! She deserves the recognition, what an incredible portraitist. Word around town is she's currently making some video work...look out...