fithian buliding

To create a narrative is my favorite kind of photography. However as a photographer I must always be concerned with the viewer and how the viewer will interpret my work. I bring my own sensibilities to my photographs, meaning what ever I have experienced is part of my frame of reference, and that goes into the photograph. The viewer has their own experiences. He or she might be from a different state where they use the word “pop” for soda while I use the word soda or even soft drink. Farther reaching differences can be assumed here. If my references are too vague for most viewers it becomes like an inside joke, and only works with those who are in the know. To broaden my reach of audience, I have to use symbolism that is more universal. I won’t reach everybody. But my intent is to keep my narrative understandable, brief, and open enough for the viewer to interpret on their own. That’s a job of a photographer. Its not to just make pretty pictures.

I thought I would turn David’s photograph of a building completely around. Instead of showing the outside I made this image inside the Fithian Building here in Santa Barbara. The Fthian Building has some historical significance for Santa Barbara. It was here during the 1925 earthquake and lost its 3^rd story. Today, it houses multiple small businesses from architects to lawyers. Each has a room or series of rooms  had odd doors and the old wooden floors creak under the feet of anyone walking the hallways. This character I have used before during this game. In fact I made this image on the same day I made the one of him in the concrete room I played on June 30, 2013. I chose to use this one against the buildings because of the color of the building in David’s image is so similar to the color of the walls in this image. Also, as we look at the outside of the building, this character is looking at the inside of the building. The horizontal lines of the wainscot suggests the comparison to a horizontal cityscape while the man’s body is the vertical standing as a sentinel like a single isolated building in the landscape. He appears to be looking up just beyond the frame of the photo, which might suggest to the viewer there is something to see outside the border of the image. This takes advantage of one of the things I love about photography. Using the edge of the image to define something that may or may not be there. What we do not see becomes just as important as what we do see. Do you see what I mean?