A Painted Ghost

Some Cultures believe that capturing an image of a person

captures a piece of the subject's soul.

Trapping it within the reproduction.
Having been captured though

Could it then escape?

Drawn to a living spirit?

What purpose would such a spirit have?

To follow and observe?

To protect?

Or does purpose depend on the soul captured?

Would it be more sinister?

What of afterwards?

Would it then roam free to find another bright living spirit?

END

On A Painted Ghost

With this photo series I wanted to communicate a simple haunting in a different and more sinister light. As I scouted photo locations throughout town, the mural in Downtown Salisbury seemed the perfect choice. Due to the period clothing and near photographic depiction of its characters Cyndy Arthur-Rankin's mural of turn-of-the-century Salisbury seemed a perfect location for a haunting. The facial expression on one character is so intense that I knew I had to use it as my "ghost". In creating the series I found myself considering turn of the century spirit photography and contemplating how some cultures still believe that reflections, and thus photography, captures the soul of the subject. I used this concept to form my haunting around a series of images taken of my daughter around town. In the first few photos I wanted to generate an idea of the trapped spirit in the mural image. My narrative is based around the idea that it may be possible for these images to escape. Wanting to create an aura of haunting I had the ghost appear at distance initially and gradually get closer, because of this the images must be viewed sequencially for the full effect of a stalking ghost to be realized. I feel that by sequencing the photos this way I was able to create a feeling of suspense in the observer as the ghost approaches the subject. Not wanting to portray a stereotyped haunting I shot each image in broad daylight rather than at night or in twilight in order to contrast the bright scenes with the dark concept of the haunting. The images all lead inevitably to the last which I felt would leave the viewer with a feeling of unease as the ghost stalks a new victim.

T Marts