There Is No Here

This project is an outgrowth of a few things. In March 2017, Alina and I were wrapping up a beauty project that we’d been working on for the previous year. We were meeting regularly, we got along swimmingly and so we were looking for a new undertaking. As a street photographer, there were a lot of locations that I knew would make for an interesting backdrop, but serendipity had just never lent it’s helping hand to assist me in capturing something memorable at these spots. It finally dawned on me that I could use Alina’s skillful ability to convey emotion with her eyes and just her body positioning to bring these locations to life. I knew I wanted there to be a hint of surrealism and I knew I wanted the colors that she was wearing to really pop in the frame. I decided that 1960s Mod fashion would meet both goals. While many of the outfits in this project are true vintage, there are modern retro pieces sprinkled throughout. Outfits were chosen specifically to complement the surroundings, and to hint that the image was taken in a different era. Since we were shooting on the streets, we needed to do things quickly so that we wouldn't need to get permits and so that we could make images without other people (that would probably not be dressed like Twiggy) in them. We worked while the Financial District was still asleep. Alina’s considerable improvisational and posing skills were key to bringing each image to life. At the beginning of this project, the idea was to just make some trippy photos. At some point a theme started to emerge. Flashes of my past seemed to be seeping into the images and a narrative started to come into shape. 30+ images into the project, I'm still reluctant to define what the story being told actually is; I hesitate to influence the viewer’s interpretation and imagination. I like the idea of the viewer drawing their own conclusions. With that being said, here's my interpretation...*SPOILER ALERT*... As the narrative began to emerge, I saw it as a parable illustrating the struggle between being boxed in by societal expectations and choosing to live as your authentic self. Later on, the idea that each image could actually be *unrelated* started getting some momentum. I like the idea of things being more open ended and less prescriptive. From this perspective, each image is a different a possibility of who she was, is, and can become. This submission, however, forced me to winnow down the set significantly. Different edits could have told a different story. But these 10 images do, I believe, cut closest to the heart of this project. The title, "There Is No Here" was also the title of my first studio produced album from 2005. Full of progressive techno beats, it sounded a lot like futuristic breakdancing music. Creating this album moved me from a struggling DJ trying get traction, to an up and coming DJ/producer. It's also when I took on my final (prescient) stage moniker, The Beat Counselor. So in effect, this is a story about...me? If I was reincarnated as a girl in the 60s... Then again probably not... Each picture being a different iteration of herself makes just as much sense. As does the parallel universe angle. See you in another life. Model: Alina Lee (instagram.com/ohthumbelina) Wardrobe: Tony Van Le Ideal print size: if printed so that all images are presented at the same size, then 30" x 20" at 300dpi (although optimum sizing can be up to 39" x 26" depending on the image).