The Inside Out

In my photographic portfolio, The Inside, Outside, I capture the uncanny valley. Uncanny meaning the familiar being suddenly unfamiliar. Though this meaning is subjective from person to person, I explore themes such as the psyche of detectives and psychopathic criminals while depicting violence and malevolent imagery. My images are comprised of harsh shadows and muted colors. This is in combination with digital manipulation. In majority of my photos I show cloaked figures. This is to not identify psychopathy with a particular race or gender. I use the cloak only to identify the figure as being human. I was fascinated in creating a short film center around detective work and criminology. In early October I had started filming a short film that I hope to later see become a full length film. This idea inspired my first set of images. These first five images are heavily inspired by film noir. I reference film noirs visual style while also referencing religious paintings, and the whimsical and surrealistic style of the photo based artist team of Robert and Shanna Parkeharrison. In set one, the compositions are standard. I wanted the view to read them without being distracted. I want my audience to focus on the symbolism with in each frame. Each image is carefully staged and composed, with the intent to explore the ideas of fear, regret and remorse of a fatal crime. After discovering the Parkeharrison’s work, my style changed. Continuing the same theme, I was fascinated with the whimsical and surrealistic nature of their photography. I incorporated that style to my own work to try and replicate what I perceive to be uncanny. I believe criminals, specifically psychopaths push the line of the uncanny valley. They are human but they lack the qualities of what defines humanity Evaluating these sets of images together, they can be read narratively. Each individual set with its own story. I’ve realize that these images are a byproduct of the avenues that I wanted to explore in my film. So collectively these series of images are what I feel takes place in a psychopathic criminals head. In a attempt to depict a bias and stereotypical approach to how I believe they see the world