Susan Sims-Hillbrand

PENLIGHT STATEMENT

Early on the camera became my tool of expression for exploring undefined moments. With an assignment to do an unusual self portrait, I outlined my body with a penlight. Seeing myself as this simple form of light was foreign and haunting. This left such a strong impression that I was drawn to develop its potential for self-reflection and renewal. This is how the ‘penlight’ series began.

Each piece is a type of performance wherein I interact and engage with the subjects by asking how they see themselves. I start with either a location that inspires me and add subjects or vice versa. Working like a painter, the light is my brush and the film is the canvas. Once the lens opens I move undetected to draw the light impression. Many mention a feeling of being left in the space as they step out of the frame. A background is superimposed and then the lens closes. Using the flexibility of a four by five view camera I make calculations on the ground glass to add multiple exposures. The finished prints are stories that can be interpreted with layers of meaning.

How we relate to each other and our surroundings and what can be discovered about ourselves through these relationships is at the heart of the series. Undisturbed by familiar appearances, the transparency of the portrait allows more freedom to the viewer’s imagination. I use the ethereal nature of the outlines together with recognizable backgrounds to bring awareness about the place we occupy and our connection to it. The final results for me are spiritual landscapes that open up new possibilities of observation.