Yesterday, I felt like crap. Which is how one usually feels when they are beset with a bacterial infection, especially in the earlier stages and the meds have not fully taken effect (e.g. some bacteria is still creating some internal havoc). About all that I could accomplish yesterday was to look for an image that might be an abstract characterization of what I was feeling, posted here.
Fortunately today I am feeling better, actually getting some much needed sleep last night which does therapeutic wonders for the body and soul. Inspired by yesterday’s update I thought maybe something similar might be appropriate for today; the question of how might healing metaphorically look like? Since I seem to be thinking a little more clearer today (I hope), the idea of investigating an infection as an artistic series is starting to become more interesting. Thus a conceptual question: what might represent an infection and someone going through a sickly condition?
So while the earlier crapy feeling is still a bit too fresh in my memory, why not look and tweak some of my Organic Abstraction images for an earlier phases of an infection?
I made some color and contrast adjustments to the image, above, that seemed to look equivalent as to how I was feeling when the full onset of the infection was taking place before any of the meds starting kicking-in. Essentially the healthy things are being over-run and attacked by the slimy green bacteria stuff. A little bit of white highlights are needed to signify that the white cells were being activated but essential overwhelmed and in disarray. The body’s defenses were not ready. I also apprecaite that there is a hint of motion and potential turbulence, thus the Infection Storm title for this image, that conditions are being upset and really out of sorts, no longer calm or orderly that would be consistent with normality.
I will admit that the first time I worked on this image a month ago the visual results turned out different. At that time I was entirely reacting to my image adjustments in a process-driven way without any visual goal in mind. How does this image look as a singular image on its own merits regarding color, form, line, mass and contrast as I made the various changes? Today I had something in particular that I wanted to conceptually tease out of this image; the representation of an infection storm created by bacteria.
Cheers & stay safe,
Doug
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My other exhibitions and workshops:
The Photographers Eye’s gallery exhibition, Living and Photographing in the Time of COVID-19, group virtual exhibition that includes two of my diptychs from the series A Developing Crisis. This online exhibition is from May 8th through August 1st, 2020 (tomorrow).
Medium Photo 2020 Workshop: Developing a Creative Book workshop that I will be leading, is now rescheduled for September 24 – 27th, 2020, a four-day extended weekend workshop in San Diego.
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Featured artwork; Fresnel Coefficient 4143 (Quantum Elements), copyright 2020, Douglas Stockdale
Singular Images 
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