What makes a perfect frame? In today’s submissions for our 2022 Photography Annual, the essence of composition is captured and celebrated with the camera’s unique ability to turn anything into a work of art, including leftovers, at the forefront of it all.
In his series “Fall Fine Jewelry Auction #5521” (above, left), American photographer Darnell McCown captured several promotional pictures for Heritage Auctions. Using a Horseman LD Pro, Phase One IQ 180, and a Rodenstock APO Sironar Digital with a 135mm lens, McCown was able to create a series of enticing photos that perfectly puts the brand’s jewelry in an illustrative light. Relying on acrylic cubes as placeholders, McCown’s shots build off geometric compositions to augment focus on the product, with each piece carefully placed at the cubes’ centers. Framed by both object and camera, Heritage Auctions’ line of jewelry takes the forefront of each photograph and brings out the best of the brand’s luxurious tone.
On the other side is “The Leftovers” (above, right) by American art duo The Voorhes. Shot by Adam Voorhes using a PhaseOne XF with an IQ3 100 and a Schneider 120mm Macro, the series depicts everything the duo found while cleaning up their workshop in a way that brings out hidden beauty. Thanks to Robin Finlay’s styling, moldy cherries, half-eaten cantaloupes, and leftover lemons were transformed into focal points of contemporary art. On top of that, in using different fabric colors, slab patterns, and shapes, the duo were able to frame each leftover as part of a larger, aestheticized scene. The end result almost mirrors the fine jewelry we see in McCown’s work, proving that both food and diamonds can be desireable subjects for the camera.
