After completing Part 1 of my photographic art series on an antique botanical journal, my curiosity was aroused on other works by this relatively unknown photographer. To my pleasant surprise, her next published book on ‘cyanotype’* does not disappoint.
Intrigued by this antiquated art of photographic printing, photographer Zeva Oelbaum ushered us into a world of rich, infinite variation of blues, dressing up her images as contemporary art forms.
I have always been enchanted by the serene beauty of the blue spectrum, educed from the deepest mysterious midnight sky to the lightest translucent fluidity of flowing creek. From velvety rich indigo blue and refreshing tropical aqua blue to luxurious shimmer of silvery blue, these elegant shades emanate emotions of tenderness, melancholy, solitude, sensuality and even seduction.
Through this exquisite colour of soul, all superfluous details are liberated leaving only the intrinsic silhouette, rewarding us with the essence of the image. We are at liberty to interpret the interactions of their forms - as a pattern, a movement or life itself.
Being a photography enthusiast and a former student of Film Studies in Sung Kyun Kwan University, our prince can indeed recognize the art and science of cyanotype and the special place it holds in the history of photography.
This 1970s classic instrumental piece ‘Samba Pa Ti’** by the legendary Carlos Santana embraced me into the sentimental fantasy world of our prince Yong Joon. What a pleasure to explore every facet of his majestic physique and sensual move! It is such a fulfillment to coalesce that modernism and mystic sentiment with his heavenly silhouette. My admiration and love for this extraordinary human being has deepened once again through this creative progression. I love to share my infinite passion towards Yong Joon with you, hope you enjoy our sensual prince in cyanotype.
Note :
* Cyanotype is an old monochrome photographic printing process. The chemical formula was invented by British astronomer Sir John Herschel in 1842 (3 years after the invention of photography) to provide an efficient method to duplicate large scale engineering charts and calculations. The resulting print is of cyan-blue background with a white outline of the image known as blue print.
** ‘Samba Pa Ti’ by Carlos Santana
References :
1. Flowers in Shadow - A Photographer Rediscovers a Victorian Botanical Journal, Zeva Oelbaum, Rizzoli International Publications, Inc. 2002
2. Blue Prints - The Natural World in Cyanotype Photographs, Zeva Oelbaum, Rizzoli International Publications, Inc. 2002
2 comments:
Hi Jaime,
Love this post! And the previous one on classic beaty too.
You made great choices in pairing Zeva Oelbaum's photographs with those of Yong Joon. I particularly like the one with the 3 butterfly shadows on one side and His shadow on the other, teasing us, who know it so well; also, the one with the single butterfly and its shadow paired with a similar view of Yong Joon; and, my favourite, the feather paired with that very unusual pose, his hair blowing in the wind echoing the feather's lower fly-away fibers.
I love this picture of YJ, first and foremost, because of the exquisite line of his jaw bone. As you wrote in the previous post, how can a man be so beautiful? Then, there is his vulnerability: no arm available to shield himself. Lastly, there is his facial expression which can relate to a host of human experiences but all taken to the highest level, to the point of surrender.
Btw, where are you at with the TWSSG episodes, on TV and at Wald9?
Hope you remembered to wear green on Monday. It was (is still here)St. Paddy's day.
my dear gosijo,
thank you for reading this again. I am with you on this, the feather picture is my favourite. His facial profile, his body silhouette are all in display. And in his case, there isn't even any flaw, only perfection.
Yesterday NHK BS-Hi aired episode 15 which ChongRyong appeared. So this week starting today Wald9 shows episode 14 and 15. Hehe in fact, tomorrow a bunch of sisters (including moi) are going to Wald9, should be a fun gathering.
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
love ... jaime
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