Chris[Co] Art

Doc Photo Final Critique, 20 16x20 images.

Artist Statement

I set out to prove that documentary doesn’t mean bland. Critiques have told me that I have a definite style, that I know how to craft an image, but what exactly does that mean?

More silhouettes?

More high contrast action?

More juxtaposition of urbanized landscape with skateboarders?

In the age of a constant stream of images, how do yours stand out? Every image or creative representation we’re seeing on a daily basis has a function. To be a creative in this society, the work has to possess some kind of spark, some kind of gravitational pull to keep your attention. Even to debase our position as creatives to just being content providers, what content do you provide that makes the world stop and want to know more? What makes your audience marvel at the view?

This project began with me wanting to be like Spike Jonze, Yoann Lemoine/Woodkid, David LaChapelle and other film makers and photographers I admire. I’m more inspired by cinematography and the moving image, so I try to blend them together to defeat the commodity of the stagnant form. The idea of documenting something shouldn’t be so stale because anybody can take photos, but not everybody can have a vision they want to portray. I want my work to look like just that, my work. I began this body of work wanting to mimic the style of the greats, but I was able to craft my own style into a definite form.

Enjoy, Flight.

-Chris Colvin

This project was a great experience in discovering the kind of work I make and how it resonates with an audience. It also reaffirmed to me that I need to keep creating what I want and the audience will adapt and relate to it once everything has culminated to a final product. I’m continuing with skate photography among other work since I’ve always enjoyed aestheticizing simplicity. It’s not a book yet, but it will be a small run of zines this summer and I’ll post selections from this body of work in the coming weeks.

(Source: chriscoart)

purveyorsofcool:

I’m gonna have too much fun cheating at Instagram with the wifi on this camera. #6D

(via doleezy)

Really loving the 6D so far!

(Source: chriscoart)

purveyorsofcool:

Preview. This might be my masterpiece of the day.

Clark and Madison, across from the Chase building.

(Source: chriscoart)

Midterm prints for Doc Photo. All 16x10.

My doc project is going so much better now that the weather has progressed to Spring. All of these were over two days in Downtown Chicago. I’m doing more streetscapes because being confined to skate parks gets very stale, very quick. The inventive nature of skateboarding lies in the streets because of improvisation. It adds another dimension of creating spots and challenges for eachother to conquer together, much more than a bench/pyramid combo can do in any park. 

I wanted to include more of the personalities of my friends by making portraits of them and focusing a little less on the physical object that is the board and more on the sense of community and brotherhood amongst us.

I also want to prove that documentary doesn’t mean bland. I hear in critique that I have a definite style of crafting an image and to hear that means more to me than anything. The idea of documenting something shouldn’t be so stale because anybody can take photos. Not everybody can have a vision they want to portray. I want my work to look like just that, my work. Hopefully that comes across in the images. 

Click photos to enlarge in sets.

(Source: chriscoart)

fiftyxshades:

chriscoart:

“Iconic”?

Chris[Co] Art

TumbleOn)

Fixed.

(via everlasting-x)

Summer is coming.

Chris[Co] Art

“Iconic”?

Chris[Co] Art

Work from Critique #3. really looking forward to getting my new camera and for the weather to get better so these can really progress. Got good critique about the still-lifes, the images in the third set and the vertical silhouette image from the second set was called “iconic” by my professor (which is the first time I’ve ever heard that about any of my work), so I’m very excited to see how it evolves in the next two months. 

Click the images to enlarge the sets.

(Source: chriscoart)

Woodkid “Run Boy Run” vibes.

Chris[Co] Art

Well, I’m peepin’, and I’m creepin’, and I’m creepin.

Chris[Co] Art

Im going to try and post regular updates and progress about my current project on here. I’m aiming for a creative exploration of skate and street photography infused with architecture and influenced by David LaChapelle, Yoann Lemoine (Woodkid) and Spike Jonze for Documentary Photo, hopefully culminating into a book by the end of the semester. I’ll discuss the difference between crafting work rather than just documenting what’s seen, the editing process and more. Maybe even some outtakes that won’t make the final cut.

These are the prints and arrangement from my second critique yesterday. 

(Source: chriscoart)

Open Late

Chris[Co] Art

Ed.Note: Obsessing over this 16x9 format again. Cinematic feeling.