Olivia Duryea // Chicago, IL

As of late, I have been watching a lot of the classic Alfred Hitchcock movies; Vertigo and Psycho were the last two I consumed; North by Northwest and Rear Window being two favorites. I can’t say that I’m the biggest fan of all his flicks, though, and I have no problem saying that. However, I will watch the movies, as I’m a big fan of how Hitchcock used light and perspective; I can appreciate the cinematography without enjoying the story. I just don’t like jump-scenes, of which he’s notoriously famous for. 

The Birds is one that leaves you with a lasting impression; Hitchcock monies make you wrestle with the art, whether you like it or not. Every time I pass by a flock of birds, I vividly remember the scene when… well I won’t spoil it for you. Ironically it’s always made me want to incorporate birds into a photo, with the ballerina being a sort of antagonist in the scene, disturbing whatever it is that birds do on a brisk October morning. 

Olivia hesitated at first, no doubt frighteningly envisioning the aforementioned Birds scene where the birds attack the school kids. But as Hitchcock used perspective to his advantage, we too used it, with Olivia being set on the plane behind the flock of birds, nonetheless disturbing their presence with her dainty ballerina gait, causing them to cry out and fly away.

I am slowly embracing the crop, the post-shoot edit of my images. I knew when I made this image that I would want to show it in a panoramic crop, with all the action occurring in the bottom 3rd of the frame. I do not know if these crops will be showcased in the book, after all, Hasselblad is very much square*. I purposed in the beginning to make the square negative work. But sometimes rules are meant to be broken.

*unless you’re talking about the X-Pan, or the newer H series film cameras, or even their newest digital cameras.

October 27, 2021