Numbers-20

Posted by Paul Ricciardi (Rock Hill, United States) on 12 January 2007 in People & Portrait.

So I better explain how this whole series will work. It consists of a photo, titled with a number (like 72 from the last time I posted) and accompanied by a haiku. Each of the photos is a self portrait with the exception of the last one. They all have stemmed from a search for self and a recognition and questioning of conciousness and self recognition. They are meant to be narrative, as always, and subtle. Not the kind of photos that catch your eye on the community page. Feedback is greatly appreciated, I'm a little wary of these since they are all a bit vague.

20:
Bicycle escape
darkest demon loses prey-
Flight from past:failure.

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Comments (8)

Damon Schreiber from Toronto, Canada

Very well done! Love the basket. It took me a while to realise that this is an excercise bike - didn't make sense otherwise. It that you pedalling? Love the idea of flight from past failure while riding a stationary bicycle.

12 Jan 2007 3:17pm

@Damon Schreiber: Haha, yeah it is a bit confusing at first but that's just how I do things. Prefer subtly and depth in artwork over immediate visual appeal. And yes those are my legs.

Still from Valence, France

Fine ambience . You make an intersting challenge!

12 Jan 2007 8:15pm

Bronnie from Christchurch, New Zealand

Very evocative, and the haiku very revealing - it's difficult to escape when you're pedalling like crazy but going nowhere. Where do the numbers come from?

12 Jan 2007 8:43pm

@Bronnie: Thanks, that's what I was going for. And the numbers come from which exposure that particular shot was. So, for example, this shot was the 20th exposure on this roll of film. The shot "72" was named for two things-firstly it was the last shot of three 24 exposure rolls I had shot in a two day period, thus it was my 72nd shot. And, coincidentally, I shot it with a 72mm lens.

Chris Sullivan from Melbourne, Australia

As always it's the subtly and intricacy that makes your photos, they really are very involving pieces that have the quality of 'depth'; they draw the viewer in and make them think; as opposed to 'pop' photography that instantly draws attention but has no real substance. Technically excellent. I like the idea of pedalling like mad but moving nowhere; as if you can never escape your past - or your past is apart of you present identity.

This is an excellent idea for a series.

12 Jan 2007 10:38pm

@Chris Sullivan: Thanks Chris, you come bearing high praises for such an underwhelming photographer as myself. Perhaps photographer isn't the right word for me...at least, I wouldn't use it as my first choice. I look at myself as a poet who chooses to use film in addition to words, thus my work I look at more as poems than as photos. And I think you understand that.
In any event, I very much appreciate your comment, you are a very well spoken individual and I appreciate you spending the time to give me some feedback. It's comments like this that keep me putting film into my cameras.

Zach Siebert from Bologna, Italy

what's to say after chris? really interested to see how the whole series comes together.

12 Jan 2007 11:04pm

H.O from Victoria, Canada

I love this composition Paul :) very naice image.

13 Jan 2007 5:58am

Duncan Galbraith from kyoto, Japan

Chris has said it all most eloquently and I echo his comments Paul. You continue to produce provoking images which cant help but elicit a reaction from the viewer. The Annie series was a wonderful case in point and this series looks to continue in the same rich vein. A most intiguing and well thought out concept. I'll be back to see where you go.

14 Jan 2007 3:13am

Daniel from United States

Cool shot.

17 Jan 2007 1:47am

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