Laura Miner: Sprinkles

This is a new work in progress in which I photograph sprinkles out of their usual context. They lack a reference of scale and paired with a plain background it manipulates the viewer's understanding of the subject matter.


Sprinkles (Orange and Blue) © Laura Miner  2014

It is difficult to understand how large the subject is, and most observers look for ques in the texture and color to reconcile this. Most believe at first glance that they are jelly beans - if it is edible at all. And while that is still a good guess (a small sugary morsel) the guess isn't small enough. My titles explain it all: Sprinkles.


Sprinkles (Pink) © Laura Miner  2014
 

Sprinkles (Red and White) © Laura Miner  2014

The first photo, Sprinkles (Orange and Blue) was the jumping off point. I had taken photos of sprinkles in various ways to explore their textures and shapes. This photo was the only one during that session where I separated two from the larger group. This image was chosen for a juried show at Gallery 263 in Cambridge, MA called Massachusetts. The show was simply a selection of new and emerging artists from Massachusetts who work in various mediums. There was something about Orange and Blue that made me add it to three of the sprinkle photos I would submit for that show, and it obviously struck a cord with the jurors too.

Sprinkles (Triple White) © Laura Miner 2014

Sprinkles (Yellow and Green) © Laura Miner 2014

After that I felt encouraged to continue exploring this format: one to three sprinkles having their portrait taken in front of a seamless background. I'm trying out different pairings in size and color, as well as picking out oddities in each individual. The darker pink flecks in Sprinkles (Pink) really struck me. I will continue to pursue this with different angles and lighting.



Laura Miner 7/17/2011

As the readership of this blog knows, my current project has involved using food products to represent blood. Since February I have been attending therapy sessions for a phobia of blood and injuries, and things have been going well. I set out on this project to do two things. One, to make my audience uneasy, and question the juxtaposition of food and blood, hunger and danger (like many other projects of mine). Two, to explore my own feelings about blood in staging the scenes.
I produced some "sketch" photos using bandages, chocolate syrup, and wet chili powder that were not shown on the blog, and then the shots from the last post of red frosting and raspberry jelly on my hands. After weeks of contemplation, I realized that my methods were not working out. I felt my images were not compelling, and I was not having fun coming up with new ideas. My project guidelines were too rigid. I found myself shooting off most a of a roll of film, that I had planned to use for this project, on Portabella mushrooms. 

Laura Miner © 2011

In order to keep this project alive, I decided I cannot restrict myself to food. While the concept of using food is interesting, it should not be holding me back from using something awesome-looking because it is not edible. The new images are going to be more surreal, and intense. I want to express the idea of something screaming out for help.
I am very excited to show some new and improved photographs. Until then here are some serene images of mushrooms.

Laura Miner © 2011