Revealing Hidden Photo Processes

“In Praise of Shadows” is a body of work that explores and pushes the boundaries and meanings of photographic materials, apparatus and perception. This project started with the desire to challenge the traditional view of photography as a purely representational medium and reveal its hidden processes. Photographs have always been something to look through; what is shown in the image area matters. “In praise of shadows” utilizes basic photographic elements, camera, paper and photo-sensitive materials as subjects to challenge the perception of photography as simply something to look through. Each work in “In Praise of Shadows” exhibits varying characteristics that reveal the dimensionality of photography, turning photographic prints into sculptural form, emphasizing the act of taking photographs and revealing time both in viewing the photograph and making it. “In Praise of Shadows” opens a dialogue about photography itself and asks the viewers to see photography differently.

- Jiageng Lin ’20 (Photography and Related Media)