Steve Rood

STEVE ROOD

Although I was unable to attend Steve Roods lecture I took it upon myself to investigate and explore the art practise of Steve Rood. Steve is a highly experienced photographer, who is also a lecturer at Manukau School of Visual Arts.

Steve’s interest in photography commenced when he was a young child. The very first photograph he took was of a simple compost heap, which afterwards, burst into flames the same day the photo was taken. This incident inspired Steve to pursue a career in photography, as he was amazed at the idea of capturing images of objects and what could happen next, enforcing the idea of the ‘power of a photograph’. Steve first started his career in photography in London as a documentary photographer. As well as documentary, Steve has worked in fashion, advertising, food, still life and portrait photography, as well as design, which is such an overwhelming achievement.

Simplicity and elegance are heavily incorporated in Steve’s photographs. For example, the style of his over-exposed, out of focus fashion photographs, portrays the subject matter as a simple, almost invisible form. The figures seem so simple yet the out-of-focus effect lays a mysterious feel to the photographs. Another series of work that appealed to me were his “shadow Making Machines”. These works explore the shadows of the materials that they are made out of. The work focuses on the shadows that the light and the object implement. Each piece is constructed out of domestic items such as post it notes, a rake, jars, wire, plastic bag etc… Steve then inserts a light source inside, to cast out remarkable shadows on the surrounding walls. I like the way the different items cast a very unique shadow. I also find it interesting to know that this series was photographed/or made, using simple household objects.

“The Shadow Making Machines bring the darkness in everyday life to light. They urge us to closely look within the shadow to ascertain the light." – Patricia Rood, 2008

Although I have never been interested in Photography, I find it interesting to see the difference in photographs taken 100 years ago, until more recent years. Technology has heavily influenced the photographic world. Robert Cornelius evidently took the first ‘daguerreotype’ photograph of a person. ‘Daguerreotype’ is “an early photographic process with the image made on a light-sensitive silver-coated metallic plate. The shift in technology has allowed photographers to easily take digital photographs at the touch of a button.

Even though I may not pursue a career in photography, I appreciate the work that Steve’s achieves, and have realized how fast technology is developing, affecting not only the world in general, but Art as well.