Final Project - Ari Meek

My intention for this work was to show the beauty of simple forms. We can be so distracted by what is going on in our lives that we often forget to take a step back and breathe, observing the small and special moments. As we become more aware of the simple things in life, we will begin to notice how each of them builds on another, creating a picture larger than we could have initially thought possible.

 My work shows this by combining the simple, everyday objects of ice and light to create the larger image of an icy crevasse, or an underground ice cave. This combination of light and ice brings about an almost otherworldly beauty. My methods for this project were uncomplicated. I used only a black flannel backdrop, ice, and an LED cellphone light. I cracked the sheet of ice using warm water, then artfully arranged the broken pieces to hide the light. I then turned off all other lights in the room and began shooting. I found that a low aperture and slow shutter speed resulted in the images that I wanted. The ice began melting, creating pools of water around the ice. These pools proved to be a beautiful metaphor for the fruits that come from stopping to admire common objects.

This work is also a reflection on the concepts of light and form. The ice naturally creates rigid forms with stark edges, which gradually soften as they melt. The shapes are then brought to life by the LED light. The ice sheet refracts the light, bringing a sense of smoothness to the images. The brightness of the light also creates strong value contrasts within the form, bringing in another dimension within the ice. This work shows how light and form can work together: light creating form and form diffusing the light.