Susan Burnstine photographer

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.