Simen Johan Lecture

Simen Johan creates photographs using both digital and traditional techniques. Originally, creating digital negatives and printing in a black and white dark room.  With better digital printing he has been able change the direction in which he works, now using color.  Each of his images are created using hundreds of photographs and as he explained, sometimes taking him years to complete.  The themes that are present in his work are that of fantasy and creating "alternate realities for ourselves."  The work that he presented at the lecture included both his work with children and with animals, and not that it was obvious by his cold and impersonal way of speaking to an audience- he stated that he prefers working with animals over children. 

I really enjoy his photographs, and I feel like they speak volumes without explanation, but I think he relies too heavily on the visual aspects.  Johan spoke as if it was a true effort to explain his art.  He seems much more focused on the mechanical aspects of the work, and less on concept and ideas.  Not to mention I found it totally unprofessional the way he hurried along questions and did not really want to answer most of them.  I respect his work because I am working in a very similar way, and what he creates is truly amazing and complex.  I could completely relate to his way of working, trying to do as much work in the camera to avoid fabrication in photoshop, and he hit it dead on when he said the more you have to manipulate something the less successful it usually becomes.  I have found the same things happen in my work, usually the less forced pieces work better.  Although, listening to his lecture, I think he has a long way to go when it comes to public speaking and appealing to his audience.