Polly Chandler Photography
The House Where Nobody Lives from from You Build It Up, You Wreck It Down, 2013
This particular body of work, called You Build It Up, You Wreck I Down, is a series of narratives based on my personal interpretations of the music and lyrics by the singer-song writer, Tom Waits. Over many years now, I have endeavored this project, in which I filter and render my personal experiences, emotions, and my quest for purpose, through my understanding of Wait's music. A single line from a song that can spark an idea, or my even a simple metaphor can, at times, lead to several images I make. And I have Mr. Waits to thank.
The entirety of the images included in this project were taken with a Large Format View camera using Polaroid Type 55 positive/negative film (which is now nearly extinct).
It is important to me that my decisions in my image-making are done in the field. Nothing is an afterthought, everything is done in-camera. My photographs represent, among other things, my experience and interpretation of a particular place and moment in time (ultimately representing myself). To manipulate the image later in Photoshop takes something away from that; it's a sort of detachment from staying in the moment, again, an afterthought. Also, for me, part of challenging myself as a photographer is to create the image I'm looking for in the field, in the camera and on the negative.