Touch

Summer Swim, 35mm color film

"A plunge into an icy farm pond on a summer day when the air temperature and body temperature are the same." - Excerpt from Diane Ackerman's, A Natural History of the Senses, (section): What is Touch?, (page 55)

Artist Statement:

Ackerman so accurately describes the first dive into a body of water as being a combination of the touch receptors; hot, cold, pain and pressure. When I first read the quote above, I was immediately transported back to summer, when the water was finally warm enough to swim, but upon first touch my whole body would prick and tingle, Ackerman describes this tingling feeling as a twinge. I wanted to capture that "twinge" moment when you completely go underwater and emerge feeling the warmness of the air contrasted to the coolness of the water. 

First Touch, 35mm color film

First Touch, 35mm black and white film

"Touch is so important in emotional situations that we're driven to touch ourselves in the way we'd like someone to comfort us. Hands are the messengers of emotion."- Excerpt from Diane Ackerman's, A Natural History of the Senses, (section): The Hand, (page 118)

Artist Statement: 

When I first asked to take photos of my friend (top) and brother (bottom), both were hesitant and claimed they were camera shy. After finally convincing both of them to let me take their photos, the first thing they did once in front of the camera was cover their face with their hands. I found it interesting that two completely different people did the same gesture as a means to comfort themselves in the act of shyness. I think these photos exemplify Ackerman's statement by showing that when feeling nervous we do what we wish others would do for us, in this case hide out of shyness.

Puppy Love, 35mm black and white film 

Puppy Love, 35mm black and white film

"Touch is a powerfully important sense among animals, for whom the slightest touch of an object or another animal triggers responses." - Excerpt from Diane Ackerman's, A Natural History of the Senses, (section): Animals, (page 98)

Artist Statement:

I had visited my friend over a weekend, and while I was there, I had recorded my stay through the lens of a Pentax and a roll of black and white film. While taking what were supposed to be "beauty shots" of my friend, her dog jumped in halfway through. As my friend and her dog snuggled, I took these photos and they ended up being some of my favorites from the roll. I feel as though these photos encapsulate the need for touch by both humans and animals.