Melting objects are not something that have never been done before. There have been countless photographers who have created very compelling work with the very same subject matter. I did not start this series with anyone else in mind other than myself. I was not thinking about an audience. What was running through my mind was my desire to better myself as a photographer. To better understand and become more efficient in studio lighting, this being what I am doing with my life.
When I first started this project I wanted to take objects that are associated with melting, such as ice, and contrast them with objects that are not so easily associated with melting, such as plastic. Yet this began to have its limits. The work I was producing did not work well together. I loved the work that I produced using easily melting objects, but the objects I used to contrast them was not pleasing me. Then a friend taught me something that I had not thought of before. Why not take a more surreal approach to the project? Why not present the not so easily melted objects in a way that would be impossible? I learned a new technique.
This project is still in the works so to speak, being as the reformulation of it is still in its beginning. I am happy where this project is going yet it is not quite there yet. In other words, it is incomplete. To give my self ample time I am breaking it down into groups. The images displayed at Studio 107 are the first images produced, the easily melted objects. The more recent images will be displayed at St. Edward’s University.

Selection from the Melt Series
Sean Johnson