Electrostatic Bloom
The transitive mark of humanity, in particular power lines, has featured in my photographic work from a very early stage. Where others might see an element that clashes with the landscape, I find they add a distinctly human element which combines to tell a story. This electrical substation in Amargosa Valley in California’s Mojave Desert creates a tangle of lines and poles which come into perfect alignment with Eagle Mountain in the distance. The strong vertical and horizontal lines layered over the jagged near symmetry of Eagle Mountain distort the sense of distance. Beyond the obvious symbolism of power, the clash of the natural world and man-made structures emphasizes the outsize imprint humanity leaves on the land, even in vast, open natural spaces such as the Mojave Desert.
Electrostatic Bloom, Amargosa Valley, CA 3/19/19
General
16 x 24 x 1.5
$1,800.00
Art Medium(s)
Gicleé Torchon photographic print on Hahnemühle paper
framed dimensions, if different
24x32
About The Artist
Stephen Ciaffa acquired his first camera in 1974 at age 11. He further explored photography in both middle and high school. Ciaffa went on to study fine art photography at Saddleback College and graduated from CSU Fullerton’s Creative Photography program in 1989. His work has been shown in galleries and exhibitions in Northern and Southern California and was recently featured in the de Young Musuem’s 2023 de Young Open.
Artist's Statement
On my journey through life, certain things demand to be photographed. I have learned to heed their call. In my mind’s eye, I can vividly see images I passed by decades ago, still regretting my failure to capture them. They are lost to time. With age, patience and wisdom, I no longer make that mistake. Beauty is found in unexpected places and at unexpected times. Be ready to capture it.
