THERE IS NO WHY HERE
I learned a family secret from my grandfather when I was 25 — something that even my mother said that she did not know at the time . The deep blue hues of the cyanotype process result in photographs that have deceptive qualities of tranquility . By printing on glass , the unpredictable crackling lines and the sliding of the emulsion are faults that I encouraged while working in the darkroom . The result is images that are not quite reality — there are secrets to be learned by looking more closely .
These photographs , mostly made on travels with AJC , are a remembrance of difficult times and places . In combination with another series ( Blue On My Mind , exhibited at the Photograph Center Northwest in 2022 ), these two projects have become a visual metaphor for secrets that are hidden in plain sight .
© Copyright , Matt Ragen ( 2013-2023 ). All Rights Reserved .