"You Build It Up, It Wreck It Down"

This particular project is a series of narratives based on my personal interpretations of the music and lyrics by the singer-song writer, Tom Waits. Over the past few years I have endeavored on a project that filters and renders my experiences, emotions and quest for purpose, through my understanding of his music. It is often simply a single line from a song that will spark an idea. All of the images included in this project were taken with a Large Format Toyo CX45 View camera using Polaroid Type 55 film (which is now discontinued, although I stocked up on the film when the rumors first started that it was going to disappear). I will often location scout using a point and shoot camera, then make sketches later until an idea fully forms, and eventually make the photograph. I process my film in the chemistry on location, photographing until I get the shot that is just right. It is important to me that my decisions in my image making are done in while photographing. Nothing is an afterthought. Everything is done in-camera. I also print full frame (meaning, I do not crop the edges of the negative) in order to show that I pay close attention to every detail within my frame, including the very edges. My photographs represent, among other things, my experience and interpretation of a particular place and moment in time (ultimately representing myself). All of my images are done through the camera; there is no digital manipulation aside from some levels adjusting. -Polly Chandler