As a photographer Susan Burstine
takes pictures using camera's she's put together out of parts and kitchen
appliances. At first glance I liked the way she took her photo's giving them an
illusionary effect. When I read that all these images were taken in real time
and not photoshop'd I thought that added to their uniqueness.
In her 'Absence of Being' portfolio I found these three photos's appealed
to me most. She uses the lighting and the special camera's/lenses to create
that dark effect as if it were a picture from a scary movie. The lack of
detail in the background of the images, along with the darkness peering from
the corners makes the images look as if they weren't real or as if your were
dreaming them. The shadowed city effect of Eclipse creates a doomsday feeling
of an illusionary area, as if it were a scene from a sci-fi movie. Through the Cracks
seems like a moment from a nightmare or some type of flashback you see in
movies due to the blur of the image and use of lighting. The same aspects can
be seen in As Darkness Meets The Day, but from the angle the picture is leveled
with the buildings, which takes away any inferiority or superiority from the
image. The concept of seeing directly through the town makes it seems as if you’re
looking through the camera from the darkness as the two colors collide in the
street.
In Bunstine's 'On Waking Dreams' portfolio the pictures have a stronger
emotion tied to them because it now involves people. The use of the lighting
and faded fantasy effect creates the idea that they are in some type of
turmoil. Bridge to Nowhere represents a faded person walking endlessly (which
the title suggests). The size of the person engulfed in darkness compared to
the bridge along with the fading in the image gives an inferior lack of self,
possibly making the person seem almost invisible. Into the light gives off the
same concept, but based on the title it could be reversed where the person, once
isolated in the dark, is finding their way into the light. Then again, the mix
of the light and dark in front of the person can represent a struggle between
the two sides the stranger needs to face in order to reach the light. Also, the
light in front of the person could be smoke, whereas the moment could reflect a
battle scene and the person walking through its end. Forest Through the Tree's
is another depiction of light versus dark, yet this time the person is in the
light, although its size is inferior to the dark forest. You also can't tell if
they’re walking into the darkness or into the light side of the forest,
creating a mystery about the person. In The Approach, a blacked out figure
stands on a deserted road in what seems to be a stormy/windy weather based on
the sway of the trees. The wind and darkness of the clouds leads to storms,
which can instill fear in them. Adding the stranger 'approaching' either you or
the storm adds to that fear or to the fact their facing the weather head on.
The Approach could very well mean their fighting their fears and approaching
danger. In Reflect the same mysterious elements about who the person is
remains. Only this time they've reached a cliff area and see themselves through
what looks like could be a fast flowing river. The person covered half in light
and half in dark could represent a struggle within, while the reflection gives
no balance to who the person is.
In her portfolio 'Between' the most intriguing image I found was Breakthrough. The light versus dark is still depicted, yet the shadows in the sky form a demonic looking creature opening its arms as a means to wreak havok or just to be set free. It seems as if it's trying to breakthrough the barrier or whatever world it lives in to come into ours.
Lastly, in her portfolio 'Instinct' I found how about a kiss? to stand out the most. Compared to all of her other works with light versus dark and mysterious worlds and beings, her images of animals were a little less mysterious. Although most were just parts of animals shown, this one based on its title adds a bit of humor to the picture, which isn't seen in her other works. Whether its some type of duck or llama or other animal, the way its blurred and distorted to show its unusual snout and mouth makes the image look amusing.
