Quality photography seems to be popping up just about everywhere these days, with the price of high quality DSLR cameras continuously dropping and the cost of decent quality little point and shoots falling even faster. However, most of these photographs tend to fall into a category of “normal†or just plain “nice†instead of really standing out above their peers. The same can not be said of the work of photographer Chema Madoz. While stunning color photography holds its place in the world, a good appreciation for black and white classic pieces is a part of any serious designer’s artistic outlook. Madoz’s photography, however, is not just basic monochromatic “artsiness;†instead, the creativity of the photo sets really sets this artist apart.
Simplicity: In an industry that seems to continue to try to out-do itself with new creativity in sets, perhaps one of the most astounding factors of Chema Madoz’s work is actually its simplicity. Each photograph typically only has a few objects in it, and generally these objects are just everyday items such as shoes, bobby pins, ice, and water droplets. The commonness of these items allows everyone in just about every corner of the world to appreciate the artistic concept behind each one, as they are moments that almost anyone could have manufactured, had they themselves had the creative insight to do so.
Perspective: Madoz’s photographs show the artist’s undeniably unique perspective (outlook, not angle). While the incorporation of commonplace objects into each photograph increases the universal appeal of the works, the way in which each of these items is portrayed exhibits the brilliance of the artist. For example, a simple photograph of a pair of shoes is shifted into an intricate illusion when the laces of the shoes are interwoven; or a matchstick is used to replace the regular mercury tube/bulb on a thermometer; or a pair of suspenders is cleverly clipped onto the back of a chair to create an original chair “back.†Chema’s works show that all it really takes is a new outlook on common objects to create breathtaking original artwork.
Reality: While many other acclaimed photographers have turned heavily to digital editing processes to enhance their work, much of Chema Madoz’s photography seems to be largely (if not entirely) unedited. Since the creativity behind each photo is clever enough, no editing is needed to create a photograph that awes its audience. Refreshingly real in an increasingly edited industry, these photographs can inspire anyone to take the extra time to create a unique set, instead of taking extra time to edit the photograph.
