Amanda Langston BFA Thesis Fall 2010

Investigating Memory Through Reconstructions of Traumatic Events

With this series, I am photographing reenactments of my past, specifically the aftermath of negative events. Photographing the aftermath of these memories allows e to create a more anxious psychological space for the viewer than photographing the actual event. For me, the aftermath is a deflating or a coming down from the event that just took place, it’s a calm after the storm. The aftermath is also a more vivid memory for me than the event itself. My memory of the event can be patchy or jumbled, however my memory of the aftermath is fluid. I can remember almost every detail even down to what was said, which is how I decide my titles for some pieces.
Another element of the constructed photograph is the residual chaos that has even leftover in the aftermath: sweat on a character’s body, a small mess, and miniscule drops of blood. These are hints that what is depicted is not entirely the full story and this aids in creating the tension in the photograph. Lighting is also very important for my images; I use strobe lighting as natural or ambient light. It is crucial that the lighting create the mood for the photograph just as much as the set and characters. Essentially, I want to create a beautiful image so that when there is something out of place, like a small mess or a character’s physical appearance, it will be that much more noticeable to the viewer.

Heather Lee Birdsong BFA Thesis Fall 2010

Casey Brown BFA Thesis Fall 2010

Miles Browne BFA Thesis Fall 2010

Malissa Canez BFA Thesis Fall 2010

Tara Burkhardt BFA Thesis Fall 2010

Bryan Colombo BFA Thesis Fall 2010

Patrick Cruzan BFA Thesis Fall 2010

Danielle Dumouchelle BFA Thesis Fall 2010

Chris Freeman BFA Thesis Fall 2010

Benjamin Heiken BFA Thesis Fall 2010

Adriana Lenarczyk BFA Thesis Fall 2010

Amanda Langston BFA Thesis Fall 2010

James Pereira BFA Thesis Fall 2010

Cherish Prado BFA Thesis Fall 2010

Morgan Reedy BFA Thesis Fall 2010

Will Schneider-White BFA Thesis Fall 2010

Hannah Stitzlein BFA Thesis Fall 2010

Robert Burns BFA Thesis Fall 2010

Finn Paul BFA Thesis Fall 2010

Heather Zinger BFA Thesis Fall 2010