Place Photographer- Chip Forelli

Chip Forelli's work includes a lot of contrasts between industrialization and man-made objects with natural environments. He frequently uses long shutter speeds to create distortion, haze and a soft feel in certain areas of his photographs, which usually contrasts with a still, sharp image of focus. Furthermore, a vast majority of his work is done in black and white. About this, he says: "The use of black and white heightens the graphic content and takes the experience to another level, where the image rendered purely in terms of form and tone is more of an abstraction with added dimension and depth."

As far as his reasons for photography, he said: "My goal is to suggest an emotional response to the viewer and leave enough room for interpretation. I like the images to provoke a second look with some questions not immediately answered." This is evident in many of his photos, which do not directly favor man or nature, but rather, capture the conflicts neutrally and leave it up to the viewer to decide how they feel about the image- they are not captioned or named in any way that suggests favor to one side or the other.


http://www.chipforelli.com/landscapes-1/tilted-piling-columbia-river-oregon-49_21_689.html


In this image, titled "Tilted Piling," a beautiful scene of the Columbia River in Oregon is depicted. The water looks like a reflective sheet of mirror, reflecting the trees on the distant bank. The clouds are hazy and blurred near the top, but gain shape and boldness as they enter the frame, which draws the eye into the middle, where a crooked pipe or post juts awkwardly out of the serene scene. It does not look like it belongs. I believe that it was meant to represent the conflict of man against nature.

I think this image very accurately captures the essence of this location. It emphasizes both the natural beauty and the human intervention and expansion into this area, but it does not offer any explanation as to why this is how it is or what caused it. The man-made construct interrupts the peaceful flow of the picture, yet it is not completely bold and in your face. I think it was his intention to keep the viewer guessing and imagining.