An Eye for An Eye

Besides photography, my other interest is chess. In fact, I have had this hobby since I was a child. I like to play chess because I like to think.

Since I entered the realm of conceptual photography, my thoughts have become very active. A memory, a phrase, a piece of art, a colour tone, and many other elements can become sources of inspiration.

When I read the phrase "an eye for an eye", this graphic image came to my mind. I believe the inspiration was related to my interest in chess.

Photography

I printed out a chessboard and placed a few small wooden blocks underneath it. I had to hide them so that they would create the illusion that the board was floating in mid-air.

In any case, I had the urge, and felt it was a calling, to bring this image from the surreal world into reality.

Then I placed the eyeballs one after another.

The light source came from the studio window. The diffused light created deep shadows, which added a sense of dimension to the image.

“How long do you think it took me to set up, run from behind the camera to the set, and pose for the shot?”

For this composition, I did not use any models.

I used the camera timer and photographed the left hand first, then the right.

I had to run to the set and pose for the shot within a limited amount of time. The hands were then pasted together in post-production. Trust me, the whole shooting process was easier said than done.

How long do you think it took me to set up, run from behind the camera to the set, and pose for the shot? Why not let me know in the comments.