Gualandris, D. (2021) Embodying emotions through photography: In conversation with Marcus Schaefer, IGNANT. Available at: https://www.ignant.com/2020/06/05/embodying-emotions-through-photography-in-conversation-with-marcus-schaefer/

Black as a colour can be both harsh and overbearing and sensitive and vulnerable. This photographer uses this power of black to convey an ‘intricacy of emotion’
I think the artist is right that the use of black in art and if not more particularly at least within their work is open to allow for a variety of emotion, i dont think that the black itself is what is creating the emotion but it certainly fosters it allowing it to grow. I also believe it is not exclusively the black that enables this dichotomy of emotion to exist at once but also the greys and whites the pale colours becoming even more sensitive in their soft transition to such a contrasting tone. Or perhaps even merely how light mid tones appear juxtaposed against the black void of space.
Much of the photography we see n the day to day basis as well as the reality we perceive is in colour. In todays digital world achromatic photography can bring a refreshing perspective.
Black can be seen ‘the signifier of evil, death and fear’
While this may be true in certain situations and previous historic times i think the connotations around colour and in this case black are not as rigid as they once were.
I enjoy the artists efforts at bringing /vulnerability and softness’ to black in his work. It doesn’t feel as though it is opposing natural ideals. Though the connotations we may have placed on different colours/black in the past and till this day it is merely that contextual knowledge which alerts the viewer as to how to respond. These colours do not ‘trigger’ an innate emotional reaction. And this power of context within the piece can change the emotional response while also making the viewer question the way they interpret what they see.
The article talks of visual distortion of light shadow and depth and how this allows the viewer to feel as much as visually see in the experience with the piece. I think this is an incredibly interesting point. When we are less able to categorise what we see we are more likely to pay attention to what we feel when we look rather than what we think. For example within art it is expected that abstract work will provoke a strong emotional response but this isn’t so expected in illustrated works for example when the figuration is much clearer.
Schaefer uses drawing to develop his ideas about his photographic works and they help him embrace the errors that he encourages in his work.
The camera can capture reality but it is about capturing your reality and how you view things.
The photographer says ’the individual perception is never really identical and that’s what i love about it’
He recognises that those who view his work wont feel how he did or how he intended but they will all feel something unique to them

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