My work is cheeky and playful. I manipulate household objects and photographs to form and reflect themes of relationships, mental health issues, emotions and politics.

I use photography as a tool to document and create pieces. The items I photograph are bent, broken, twisted, flipped or stretched and then carefully arranged in a visually pleasing composition. The items are then photographed on white card.

I have chosen a birds eye view aesthetic that many food photographers use. This brings focus to the composition of the work.

I also use natural light and photoshop. To be resourceful, I have built a large box with transparent walls which allows me document pieces with diffused light. This replicates the feel of studio lighting and correctly exposes the photograph.

I have developed a means of tying several different styles of work to one theme. This theme has three different values formed with numbers that have been influenced by the work of Japanese artist, Tatsuo Miyajima.

The first value is three. Three items or images are used together to conjure thoughts of past, present and future. I apply this to works that relate to ongoing battles with mental health and emotions that feel I have experienced before.

The second value is nine. This value represents the cyclic nature of life. This value comes to mind many times when dealing with mental health issues, sexual encounters, dating and friendships.

The third value is used as a timestamp on the work. In many pieces, twenty-seven is used, because of my age at the time. It is something I use to reflect on the piece’s themes, allowing me to see if these ideas are still felt.

My process for photographing landscapes is developing. Photoshop is used for editing and collaging these pieces. I use three and nine images to create a full experience of place. Playing with the images allows me to reflect upon upbringing, self-worth and my fascination with existence. I often think about my experiences and look to the land for answers.

Tagged as: photography, teaching

Creative Riverina

Myles Prangnell