Megan Strasnick

How can light and color be manipulated to set a scene? Bring back a memory? Maybe even go as far as an unsettling nostalgia? Just a difference in time of day or a switch in perspective can change a whole mood.

This project focuses on the manipulation of long exposure photography.

Since starting photography, I have always been fascinated with long exposures. It didn’t take long before I began experimenting with how I can manipulate these photos. From illuminated lights to streaks of movement, I felt that these kinds of images have more life to them. I decided that challenging myself in this style of photography would be a good focus, because it is a style that I really enjoy shooting.

I wanted to shoot at areas that would be otherwise recognizable if not for this long exposure distortion. My original idea for how I wanted this project to look sparked when I drove by a gas station one night. The glowing lights and dark surroundings helped me in determining the mood I wanted to set; uncanny yet familiar. I kept this in mind when shooting the rest of my images.

A goal of mine was to take color into consideration when thinking about the mood I wish to set in these images. About half of these photos have a specific color focus. One magenta, one yellow, and two red.

Finally, the movement in these images represent uncertainty. Being hesitant of the future, but unable to stop time from progressing. The moments when you must make decisions on your own, unsure how to choose.