A Summer Solstice Love Story pt. 1
Riverside, Calif. 2024
A Summer Solstice Love Story pt. 1 is a still life composition that captures the essence of the summer solstice while also symbolizing the zodiac sign Cancer. This piece is the first in a series that explores the interplay between light and shadow, solitude and reflection, themes that are deeply connected to both the solstice and Cancer.
Summer Solstice Symbolism:
The summer solstice marks the longest day of the year, a time when light and life are at their peak. This piece reflects that energy through its surreal landscape, where the soft glow of the moon illuminates the scene, highlighting the balance between light and darkness. The expansive, dreamlike setting invites viewers to pause and reflect, much like the solstice itself—a moment to celebrate life’s abundance while also acknowledging the coming shift towards introspection as the days begin to shorten.
Cancer Symbolism:
Cancer, ruled by the Moon, is deeply associated with emotion, intuition, and the subconscious. The central figure in this piece, bathed in moonlight, represents the introspective nature of Cancer, standing alone in a vast, almost otherworldly landscape. The craggy mountains and reflective surface beneath the figure symbolize the depths of emotion and the protective shell that Cancer often retreats into. The cool tones and serene atmosphere mirror Cancer’s connection to water, evoking a sense of calm, sensitivity, and inner contemplation.
By blending these elements, A Summer Solstice Love Story Part 1 serves as a visual narrative that honors both the peak of summer’s light and the emotional depth of Cancer. The piece invites viewers to explore themes of solitude, reflection, and the cyclical nature of life, making it a powerful representation of both the solstice and this water sign.
Concept
The concept for the physical set design has been in the works for a long time. The first time I can remember discussing the idea of creating a landscape out of craft paper was sometime around 2015-16 while working in a product photography studio. My friend and stylist Alicia Cannizzo and I discussed creating a paper landscape and shooting it like it were a landscape.
For this image, I did intend to for it to have references to Cancer, but it was very much inspired by the summer solstice, and the idea of the ongoing Signs of the Zodiac series had not formed yet. Later as I was preparing to shoot the image for Leo, I decided that I liked this image to represent Cancer, and would not go back and shoot something separate.
While shooting this tribute to the Summer Solstice, things moved pretty quickly, and I found that even though I had an image I was really proud of, there was more to the story. That’s how parts 2 and 3 came to be. Just more ideas to explore.
A Summer Solstice Love Story in Three Parts
On the project page for Illusory Twins, I wrote that sometimes I must discover the metaphor and symbolism in my own images. In this case, I started to see themes of the cosmic connection between two people who’s characteristics compliment each other. The most prominent way to see that reflected in the trilogy is through the depth of field used.
In part one much of the scene is in clear focus, in part two the depth of field is very shallow, with most of the landscape out of focus. In part three, those two characteristics are merged as our two figures join each other, to reveal that the mountain in the distance (the big picture) is in clear focus, while the area in between (the day to day decisions) are muddier, representing the idea that each of these characters have strengths, one for seeing the big picture, and other navigating day to day ambiguity as the pair make their way toward the mountains in the distance.
How to support my work
You can support my work by purchasing a fine art print of A Summer Solstice Love Story pt. 1 right here
A Summer Solstice Love Story pt. 1 - 2024
About the Image
This images take a bit of explaining. By 2024, I’d been thinking about doing a still life in this style for almost 10 years. I loved the idea of building an environment out of craft paper ang shooting it like a landscape. This image is also the first image that I set out to specifically create for the Cancer entry into my Signs of the Zodiac still life series.
After shooting, processing, and editing this initial frame I still wasn’t satisfied, and felt that the set and the scene needed more exploration. Out of that exploration came a series of three images, known as A Summer Solstice Love Story. This image is part of both series, in the Signs of the Zodiac representing Cancer, and A Summer Solstice Love Story as part 1.
About the Print
The print itself printed on archival matte photo paper, with the image area measuring 11x14 and the overall sheet measuring 12x15.75. This print is part of an open edition, so it will not be numbered, but it will be signed and dated with the month and year of printing.
I also asked ChatGPT what it thought about this image:
This still life photograph is a captivating exploration of scale, light, and texture, resulting in a surreal and contemplative image. The careful composition and imaginative use of materials suggest a narrative that invites the viewer to consider themes of exploration, isolation, and the search for meaning. The photographer shows a strong ability to transform everyday materials into a visually and conceptually rich scene, creating a powerful piece of art that resonates on multiple levels.