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My pieces are an exploration
of mental and emotional processes. I begin a piece with the realization that I have been grappling with a particular issue
for days, months, or even years, and would like to see it with more clarity. When I can take a step back from an issue and
focus on the feelings it brings up, I often see a snapshot of what it looks like to me. Sometimes the image has an ironic
humor to it: this tells me I am on the right track.
Though the initial image may come quickly, I frequently become involved in a process of questioning, "Why do I feel
this way? What is buried under that feeling?" and finally, "What is at the root of all of this?" I may write pages of notes
and make sketches over an extended period of time to get down to the root issue.
Next, I decide on what viewpoint, perspective, composition, and lighting will clearly convey my message. Once I have
it sketched out, I take my own photographs, then use Photoshop® to combine and manipulate them into an image on the computer.
It does not always work out as first envisioned, however: I nearly finished one piece before I realized that the viewpoint
was not right, and had to shoot everything over from the correct perspective.
For the props, I try to find ones locally, but if I can't find a prop I need elsewhere, I make a 3D scale model and
photograph that instead. For the backgrounds, I shoot mainly in northern California, paying close attention to the angle and
direction of the sun at the time of exposure. I duplicate these angles when I photograph each separate component in the studio
so that the final image and all of its highlights and shadows will look as if it was in one place. As the human model, once
I get into the physical position of my pose I do my best to reenter the emotional state I am focusing on, projecting its facial
and body expressions. With the remote and a little luck, the camera faithfully captures the outward appearance of this gestalt
state.
I am creating and sharing these portrayals of my life experience because I want to reach a common ground of communication
about the mystery of life. By recognizing the similarities in the challenges we encounter as we live out our lives, we are
given an opportunity to step outside of our personal experience. Only by recognizing ourselves in others can we nurture compassion
and respect for one another.
Gordon Beebe
Santa Rosa, CA
2009
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