Hot Wash

Hot WashThis image was almost part of my Abstract Architecture series but didn’t quite seem to fit with the others somehow.  I still like the image, even if it is an orphan.  The title comes from my friend and fellow photography enthusiast, Phillip Swan; I posted this image on Facebook and he responded with the caption “hot wash” which I felt was more fitting than anything I could think of.

This one made me break my recent monochromatic habit.  Sometimes things really are better in full color.  Don’t get me wrong, it still works in black and white, but the rich contrast between the dark blues and the bright yellows and oranges really help to grab the eye in a way that is lost when desaturated.  I think the image is striking and vibrant but oddly enough the reaction I’ve gotten multiple times when sharing the image with people is, “Gross!”  I’m not sure what exactly it is that their mind’s eye is seeing but in reality it is just a piece of crumpled paper inside of a plastic cylinder stuck in a wall and lit from behind, which can be found on the North side of the Tempe Center for the Arts building.  I do think part of the appeal of this abstract is the mystery; that people will wonder what the heck it is that they’re looking at.

5D Mk III with Macro 100mm f/2.8L IS USM lens. ISO 400, f/8, 1/100 sec.

© 2013 Johnny Kerr Photography