Dystopia, America part 1

Is America’s light fading? Do things feel remotely normal? Whose values? Whose light? What is a woman? What is truth? Every week, every other day, there seems to be a new question, debate, dilemma, debacle, absurdity, challenge, assault or redefinition.  

Amidst client and editorial shoots, I’ve begun to capture and am now sharing some darker images that reflect somewhat darker post-modern moments.  

An old boat, power lines, a busted gate, forgotten dreams and subdued colors are etched by hundreds of superb details captured in this medium format photograph below. Ugly yet beautiful with beauty in the eyes of the beholder. 

Dystopia, America is a wasteland of forgotten or withering dreams.

It’s hard to appreciate the image and its details on a computer screen so I’ve included a few crops below. I remember taking the image and wondering if I’d gotten the lines just right. Click…

I felt like my luck continued with the image below. I eyed what almost seemed a Wyeth painting – subdued colors and tons of brushwork via nature’s lines and patterns – along with a pair of birds on a wire. Just a pair. Others had joined a large group of what I think were grackles.

Overtaken has both symbolism and lovely detail.

Here’s a little more detail from “Overtaken.”

The third image featured here is The Hearst. As I was in the country, just off a backroad highway amidst a late day fog, it felt serendipitous when I saw a luxurious black truck approach. Given that I shoot with a camera that at best does three frames a second, you often only get one “shot” at capturing the moment. The black vehicle with blacked-out windows made the moment all the more surreal.

It was only long after, when I was processing the image that I could “see” what was right in front of me. A crucifix was formed by one of the trees on the horizon, which I highlighted for effect.

Below is a visual summary of this evolving Dystopian set with links to products. My online store offers a variety of sizes and options and they are very reasonably priced for custom fine art products, most of which have archival (multiple generations) museum-quality materials and inks. For instance, a 15″ x 20″ fine art print on Hahnemuhle Fine Art Bartya paper is only $135.

To give you a feel for options, I assembled this collection. This is actual size, relative to the 7-ft couch. On my site, you’ll see more options. I’m more than happy to help if you’re interested.

1. American Dystopia Type. 20″x15” Matte Metal Print with a 3/4″ inset frame and wire for mounting.  $319.96.  Additional sizes available. American Dystopia Type
2. The Hearst 20″x15” Sheer Matte Metal Print with a 3/4″ inset frame and wire for mounting.  $319.96.  Additional sizes available.  The Hearst
3. At 20″ x 15″, Stuckeys is a relatively modest print in size but it’s emboldened on archival Hahnemuhle Fine Art Bartya paper.  Most of the profit margin goes to my esteemed printer/framer as the print is housed in a Black Wood Box frame with a four-inch mat. $519.20 Stuckeys
4. Dystopia, America is featured here as a 32″x 24” fine art canvas gallery wrap with a 2.5” gallery wrap frame (sturdy!), housed in a White Wedge Float Frame.  $903.75 as shown with options to print as large as 40×30. DYSTOPIA, America
5. Overtaken is shown as a 30×40 Fine Art print (archival Hahnemuhle Fine Art Bartya paper) framed with a Box White Wood frame.  $715.79 Overtaken
6. Outlier.  A 20″ x 15″ Fine Art print on archival Hahnemuhle Fine Art Bartya paper framed with a Box White Wood frame and a four-inch mat, increasing the size proportionately. Outlier $519.20 

See this set in my Earth & Sky collection https://www.scottedwardsfineartphotography.com/earth-sky

You’ll learn more about Stuckeys and Outlier in my next post.

Thanks for your time. You can find out more about me on this website.  I’m Scott Edwards, a hybrid  photographer (digital, modern and vintage lens, and a little bit of film) who shoots portraits, lifestyle, commercial and fine art photography. I gladly, thankfully shoot for individuals, families, businesses and organizations.  My fine art work is at scottedwardsfineartphotography.com

All images copyrighted. (C) Scott Edwards, 2023.