Portraying Humans as Not Entirely Human, is a Human Concept

Enjoy | Delight in Life

Waiting and Watching

The blue of the Chase bank logo beckoned to me as I sat in a New York City cab at a red light.

Blank Canvas

I liked how the scene looked impressionistically out of focus.

Sketch

 I shot a few frames with humans walking to add narrative.

In Step

Four teens walked into my frame and then suddenly, amazingly, one of the young men leaped exuberantly into the air, his coat's blue hue only a few degrees off from that of the Chase logo.

The next day at the Whitney Museum of American Art, after immersing myself in Modern Life:  Edward Hopper and His Time, I read through the exhibition catalog.  Along with other artists from Mr. Hopper's era, the catalog included a painting by one of my art heroes, Modernist painter Lyonel Feininger.  The humans in his work were portrayed as "translucent triangles".  According to Mr. Feininger: 

I do not think that I will ever portray humans realistically, but this idea, in itself, is human.

Tech Tips: Nikon D700, Nikkor 24-70 mm, ISO 400.  ©2010 John Nordell

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