I'm not the only one seeing life through a lens!

http://www.notifbutwhen.com/

Brian Ulrich spoke at my school today, gave a brief presentation of his work (and a few sneak peeks of unreleased stuff for his book) and i was thoroughly impressed with him. I'll admit, before hearing him speak, and just seeing his imagery, i wasn't a fan. but, after hearing him discuss on a very down-to-earth, open forum honesty level, i realized the point he was trying to get at.

"At first i used photography as a way to arrange my life, i took pictures of friends, relatives, and all of it was a big ugly biography"

He was getting at how the bulk of his early work was pictures of anything he reacted with, and how those nouns effected him. how each and every thing in his life had changed him. I didn't believe i was alone in my thought and assessment of things, this image of the world and my own surroundings through the objective and specific view of a lens, but i certainly didn't expect to meet someone else with similar thinking so quickly, and in such an ironic fashion as a speaker at a school conference, one i didn't particularly want to go to, being lead by a photographer i wasn't impressed with.
In hearing him talk, and seeing his work through new eyes, i was able to assess my own views, and learn from someone in a similar position, with a bit more experience and several years ahead of me i the game. it was refreshing, and almost calming, to hear words that i would very well speak, coming out of the mouth of someone i don't even know. it's like "thank god he can do this, because i don't know if i could have put that any better, and it's 8am. I'm quite tired." One of the central topics he discussed, and the loose topic of his entire series "Copia" was Americana in consumerism, and Post 9-11 fear mongering. a reoccurring theme in every single piece of the "retail' chapter of the 4 part series contained a sublte (or in some cases, overwhelming) presence of red white and blue marketing. He made a small note of this in his talk, but was very insitant in letting everyone taking their own meanings from his work. he would give a basic explination of the setting, how he did it, his equiptment (he was giving the forum discssion to a group of photo-majors) and other general notes on the subject. Every piece truly carries sway and meaning in the sets, most having very strongly pointed jabbs into the american marketplace, and reatails use of subtle americana to lure buyers.
The motovation for most of this series ('Copia') is Post 9/11 fear mongering in everything from media to advritisments to governmental regulations and policies. In several of these pieces, he almost directly attacks the system, but in most, he subtly nudges at the idea, and lets each viewer figure it out. the personal connection we feel when truely working out and understanding an image helps us believe in the issue being addressed. In one piece, a more direct poke at silly policy and the lunacy in some growing regulations, It depicts a sign on the window of a gas station. the shot is taken from the inside, and it's important to note that this is the first and last image of the series to show any outdoors, even through a window... The sign reads in large intimidating letters:

HOMELAND SECURITY
THREAT LEVEL TODAY
________________
(please see cashier for details)

in the section normally used for showing the 'threat level' it's just a clear window, meant for something to be written in, but currently blank and just showing the sky on the other side. He proceded to tell us a the brief story. he said he went to the cashier, stupified and mildly annoyed, and asked 'so, whats the threat level?' and the cashier, dumbfounded, looks at him and cocks her head. he insists and points at the sign, mumbling '....it says,.. it says to ask the cashier about the threat level.' the woman just puts her head in her hand, sputting almost silently 'awww.. shit.' and after looking into a book, buried under the desk, she says 'the threat level today is Hightend Suspicion.' 'Oh, well, what does that mean?' he polietely inquired; and soon, a small disscusion was created, as the deathly serious woman made a point to stick to her guns, saying that obviously, something was up, and that everyone should be super suspicious of just about everyone.

The photograher, the speaker, spoke quite honestly and plainly to us. he just turned around and said 'at that moment, i thought i had just met the stupidest woman in the good ol' USA.'

Another piece, earlier in the set, shows a small booth against the wall inside an area of the "Mall of America." The piece is closely cropped around the booth, showing only a peek on either side. to the left, a matress booth, to the right, an ATM machine. the booth's signage up top shows 'UNIVERSAL CASKET' (in the characteristic red/white/blue lettering...) and shows little cutouts of caskets, previews of death boxes that could be your for a very good price! two pictures are within the booth, one, in the top left, shows a dad and his son, pointing out onto a beachfront into the abyss. the text underneath says 'AFFORDABLE!' (um? how does that relate to the image?! at all!?) and the image on the right shows an elderly couple laughing, and the lettering says 'UN-EMOTIONAL' (wow. cause laughing in the image must not be an emotion.. and thats the kind of funeral rights i want performed! the kind where no one gets emotional, and just forgets about you!). along with the horribale addvritisement, a terribale, supposed to be comforting, urn with a bush comming out of it is the centerpiece of the booth...

so, we have beauty rest, and eternal rest, all avalibale for the low low price of 999.99$! and look at that, an ATM handy! oh boy! i thought i'd have to go to the bank to buy this investment! but who needs that time to think! BUYBUYBUY! :D



Summary: after really hearing him explain his work, and really looking into his work with the themes discussed in mind, i understand why he's got pieces traveling the globe, held in some of the most famous modern art galleries, and published in the NY times. Please, take the 1/2 hour out of your day to explore another humans view of the american marketplace, the vast 'Copia' of goods and money we possess, and the american consumerism spirit that guides the very world we live in. It's quite different, but a very educational and eye opening look through the lens of the lives of millions, even if focused and cropped more detailed then we can imagine.