Fletcher Cairns
St Joseph's College
SHUTTER
Photomedia
Photographic prints on paper
Each of the pieces in my body of work, Shutter, is a photograph of light at a decisive moment. I used the technique of bokeh, a Japanese term to describe the effect of soft, out-of-focus dreamlike imagery, in a variety of landscapes so that my work is a collection of atmospheric, rather than realistic, representations.
Marker's Commentary
This photographic body of work presents a suite of abstracted colour images, an exploration of fleeting moments within everyday landscapes. The deliberate use of bokeh and controlled soft focus evokes a romantic, dreamlike atmosphere, with each image a moment half-remembered as if glimpsed through the lens of memory. The poetic quality of the series is strengthened with a rich, harmonious colour palette which creates an emotional resonance and aesthetic cohesion across both daylight and nocturnal settings. The decision to have various image sizes crafts a visual rhythm that mirrors the unpredictable and ephemeral nature of the experiences and sites presented.
This body of work demonstrates a sophisticated control over exposure, particularly in low-light conditions, and ably maintains a consistent luminosity throughout the series. The variations in the cropped low-key compositions amplify feeling and presence. Colour balance, tonal control and post-production refinement reflect a mature understanding of photographic processes. This mastery underpins the conceptual strength of the work, allowing its quiet, atmospheric moments to resonate.