Album #1: Ancestors
The Camera Photographs Itself
Uniting these historical portraits of people with those of cameras that have taken portraits over the last century, seems an appropriate homage to this most important instrument for capturing time. The camera becomes the subject.
This sculpture-assemblage-photography project, completed in 2011, is the culmination of years of photography experience, collecting all things photographic and serendipity. The original Victorian photo album includes 19th - early 20th Century portraits of someone’s ancestors, that I collected over years of flea market visits, and my own, original, studio photographs of my antique cameras.
Duplicating the Victorian portrait card format, where the photographer’s name and location appear at the bottom of the photograph, my camera portrait cards have my name and location, Hermosa Beach, CA. The vintage gilt design on each album page adds to the beauty of the presentation.