Looking Back on the Artist Talks

Ricky Yanas's work presents itself as the most socially interesting of the presenters. His series "Decoy" provides a novel way of exploring the very gentle social divide through photography. It was interesting hearing his stories of being detained as he was prodding how far he could get with his photos.

Yanas delved into a experiences that I have had in the back of my mind while I'm out photographing. Is someone going to object to me taking pictures? What if we get into an argument? I'm a pretty non-confrontational person but, as long as I'm in public (and maybe depending on other factors), I know I am well within my legal rights to photograph. Yanas explored a reasonable fear of mine, and how it might play out with law enforcement.

June Lee's work with his panoramic body pieces and stylized self-portraits strike me as very introspective. I spend so much time exploring other people's perspectives and lives with my photography, it was refreshing seeing Lee's work as so personal.

I rarely turn the lens on myself, except in my daily photo of myself for a longterm project. Maybe I should explore myself as much as I explore others.