Extant

[Todd Suttles]

I am pretty happy with this one but thought I would share it anyway to see how others view it, and/or would change it. I am often way off base when I think I am not.
Thanks, -/t

[francois]

I like it a lot but I'm afraid that my brain is a bit slow today. I cannot yet identify the "phenomenon" on the left side.

[Todd Suttles]

I like it a lot but I'm afraid that my brain is a bit slow today. I cannot yet identify the "phenomenon" on the left side.

Long lens, tripod, long exp, standing above/shooting down> small stream of water flowing off the edge of rock, falling down to whitewater, creek

[David Eckels]

Interesting and a bit unsettling. I like the tones. I like the curtain of water LOF and the extant rock ledge. The visual complexity of the grasses ROF and the little plant bottom right confuse me. Any way to simplify or bring the composition together by moving left or right? In your mind, what is the subject?

[francois]

Long lens, tripod, long exp, standing above/shooting down> small stream of water flowing off the edge of rock, falling down to whitewater, creek

Now, I got it, finally! Thanks.

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

I was confused at first, too. It looked to me as if the water flow was coming from the cloud above. Some kind of tornado???

Intriguing.

[francois]

I was confused at first, too. It looked to me as if the water flow was coming from the cloud above. Some kind of tornado???
…

That was my thought but with Todd's explanation, it became "obvious"…

[Todd Suttles]

Interesting and a bit unsettling. I like the tones. I like the curtain of water LOF and the extant rock ledge. The visual complexity of the grasses ROF and the little plant bottom right confuse me. Any way to simplify or bring the composition together by moving left or right? In your mind, what is the subject?

Thanks, David, Unsettling is what I wanted. The image is the subject. I think of it as a Rorschach inkblot.
The subject is the disorientation from reality. I especially like that most of the elements are recognizable, except for the mystery element which is ambiguous; even so, the elements do not "add up" to a single reality. At a distance, I think I am looking at a mountain ridge against the sky. The closer I get the more confused I become. I will post my "current" artist statement in the post below. It will help explain, though probably not justify, how weird I am.

[Todd Suttles]

Interesting and a bit unsettling. I like the tones. I like the curtain of water LOF and the extant rock ledge. The visual complexity of the grasses ROF and the little plant bottom right confuse me. Any way to simplify or bring the composition together by moving left or right? In your mind, what is the subject?

At the patient urging and prodding of you, Russ, Eric, and many others in and out of this forum, I have spent SO MUCH time and angst over the last years trying to figure out precisely why I make images. This artist statement is the best I have been able to express thus far. It continues to evolve and sounds way too self-important, but everybody keeps telling me I have to have it -that I am not an artist without one.

IN 3 MINUTES
My work is about the assignment of reality
Within the first three minutes of meeting a new person or situation, human nature drives us to appraise, classify, and designate a judgment for each encounter, observing everything, deciding upon its purpose. This primal instinct served humanity well for survival but causes much separation and conflict in modern society.

I create purposefully ambiguous images to elicit the viewer to interpret and ascribe a judgment or understanding; often, the image conveys potentially drastic different meanings. In performing this enigmatic process, I hope the viewer will realize this ascribed meaning reflects their views, past, and biases and has no reality in the image. I use my camera as a reading tool to elucidate my own judgments and then pass my interpretations on to the next viewer. I want the ambiguous nature of the image to essentially compel the opening of the door to self-reflection and, hopefully, a more empathetic and tolerant "reality."

I like to journey solo with my camera, mainly in the Southern US. I have yet to decide if I am finding these scenes or inventing them.

[David Eckels]

Fascinating, Todd. I think you are doing a great job of apprehending your goal. Haven't met any artist that isn't weird!
Keep going!

[John R]

I really like the shot. Interesting and intriguing. I like how the clouds mix and appear to be part of a cloud vortex, and yet are side by side with ordinary recognizable visual elements in the environment. However, even after your explanation I am still confused. You state you are pointing camera down, yet the sky is clearly evident in the image, how is this possible? Edit: OK I think I figured it out. You are very high up and are able to see the sloping areas and background below which includes the falls and slope. This allows you to see the falls and still have a background sky. Hope I have that right.

JR

[David Eckels]

I think not clouds, John, a whitewater creek. He faked us out!

[Todd Suttles]

I really like the shot. Interesting and intriguing. I like how the clouds mix and appear to be part of a cloud vortex, and yet are side by side with ordinary recognizable visual elements in the environment. However, even after your explanation I am still confused. You state you are pointing camera down, yet the sky is clearly evident in the image, how is this possible? Edit: OK I think I figured it out. You are very high up and are able to see the sloping areas and background below which includes the falls and slope. This allows you to see the falls and still have a background sky. Hope I have that right.

JR

As David said:

I think not clouds, John, a whitewater creek. He faked us out!