Untitled (Bath Street) by Summer '07 contender Johanna Reed.
Whenever I fall in love with photos like today's, by contender Johanna Reed, I feel like a little kid. I'm naturally drawn to colorful photos like a kid is drawn to candy. I recently fell for a photographer named Craig Kanarick who I first saw on Cool Hunting because the guy takes photographs of candy!!!
But, seriously, this photo is brightening up my day. Coincidentally, it is from a series called "Photos of Light", which includes images of functioning electric lights taken in Santa Barbara, CA. It kind of reminds me of this image by Spring '07 winner Kelly Shimoda. I know it's a random connection to make, but I couldn't help it--this was honestly my initial reaction.
Photographer Johanna Reed likes to notice "the tiny euphoric instances in our built landscape":
I take pictures of the details and ephemera that make our environment interesting: street signs turned sideways, losing their precious information; light fixtures so hideous they hardly illuminate; empty classrooms with rows of mute desks; lights turned off; lights turned on. I am interested in the world we have built for ourselves, the accidental design of the inanimate structures we surround each other with. I like noticing an object that is rarely noticed. I like making it look beautiful--which is not difficult, as these tangential objects tend to be inherently perfect.
Reed was born in 1984 in Santa Barbara, CA, where she worked as an editor and arts writer for The Santa Barbara Independent until returning to school in 2006. This fall, she is transferring to UCLA where she will complete her degrees in Mathematics and Design/Media Arts. She has been pursuing fine art photography for three years now and has exhibited at Perch Gallery, Atkinson Gallery, and Caruso Woods Gallery. Reed also writes a lovely blog in which she gathers "a collection of reasons to live." Check it out!
Her closing words? "Photography is a perfect art form, and I am humbled to ascribe myself to the discipline."
Brava, Johanna, and good luck!
The deadline is now fast approaching. 6 days to go. Enter now, friends.