These portraits are of people vaping tobacco, photographed using a series of colored filters. The oval shape and ultra shiny surface suggest a mirror or portal through which a transformation may be experienced or revealed.
I remember the first time I saw someone vaping. It was so dramatic. It reminded me of the early spirt photographers. The visual manifestation of the vape breath patterns suggest ectoplasm, escaping spirits, auras, chakras, energy fields, and the dissolution of the self. The series title is inspired from a vaping subculture that references the practice of exhaling large amounts of vapor to produce complex formations for the purpose of competition or spectacle.
Chasing Clouds emerged out of a long-term project of mine entitled Visionary Plants, which pays homage to important psychoactive plants that have contributed to global economies, challenged beliefs, caused violence, fueled addiction, promoted spirituality, raised consciousness, inspired art and generated legislation. Of all the plants including cannabis, opium poppies, magic mushrooms, coca, coffee and numerous others, tobacco is the most fascinating one to me.
I can see the appeal. Taking a "cigarette break" used to be one of the few ways people would take a pause in a fast-paced world. Smoking is a kind of breath meditation. Obviously tobacco is not healthful. However, tobacco has a long history with humans going back centuries. The love humans have for tobacco is deep. Its history is complex.
