ILLUMINATO images symbolize the constant struggle between natural forces. On one side; those intent on creating order and on the other, those intent on returning it to chaos.
An ILLUMINATO image creates order from chaos. From a distance an ILLUMINATO image represents order through apparent symmetry. Upon closer inspection however, the chaotic nature of the actual image can be seen.
Originally, my starting subjects were plumes of incense smoke, inspired by my time in Asia; often meandering around Chinese temples and watching the interplay between the smoke from worshiper’s incense sticks and the early morning sunlight. Often, I’d see curios patterns and shapes in the smoke, as if order coalesced for just a fraction on a second out of the chaos of the smoke plume. Each plume is as unique as the person creating it during the worship ceremony.
I took the idea of capturing this fleeting order in the studio. At first capturing interesting patterns in smoke plumes carefully lit from different angles; beautiful images in their own right. Taking the idea further, I started creating symmetric patterns from the smoke plumes. Then one day, I accidentally combined two images, such that they combined to create a totally new image. It is the mathematical inter-working between the unique composition of color and luminosity of each image that creates a totally new image.
