For this assignment, we had to document decay in an urban environment through a sequence of 10 or more images, presented any way we wanted. I chose a cigarette to convey decay, and told this sequence through a book filled with 10 images. Below is my project statement and a few photographs of my book’s pages, as well as the original photos used in the project.
PROJECT STATEMENT:
“My project uses a cigarette as a symbol of decay. A hauntingly beautiful representation of death and wasting away, a cigarette itself decays as it burns down, but also deteriorates the body of its user slowly through prolonged use. Despite its morbid nature, to me a burning cigarette has a strangely beautiful look to it, as the embers turn to ash and crumble and the wispy smoke rises from the end. Likewise, the image of someone smoking may often be seen as glamorous or cool-looking. I wanted to capture the dual nature of cigarettes and smoking as something that although visually captivating, still creates decay and even destruction. To do this, I took black and white photos that enhanced the aspects of a burning cigarette I find beautiful, as well as capturing smoking through a more attractive lens. However, to show the darker side of decay that lies beneath this icon, I superimposed a skull onto the images of my friend smoking her cigarette. The skull becomes more and more clear as the cigarette burns down. I compiled the photos into a book so that one may progress through the decaying process of smoking at their own pace as they turn the pages.”
