In these images, Nocito is using light in three very different ways, even though they are all technically part of the same series. All three images use color. According to the interview, all photos in the first half of this series were made with an 8x10 camera (which would include the first image) and most of the images in the second half were made with the 8x10 as well (images 2 and 3).All three appear to have a deep depth of field relative to the environment and the subjects. Image one is more difficult to assess depth of field because he is photographing the ground, which is basically one picture plane. Each of these were taken at a very specific time of day. The first either at sunrise or sunset, the second either before or after noon (a point in the day where the sun is low enough in the sky so that shadows form, but not late or early enough that the wavelengths of light are long and creating reds and blues in the sky), and the third after dark. In the second image, Nocito has the woman mimic the corner of the bed with the angle of her legs. In the first, there is this wonderful gradient from orange to yellowish orange to blue. With the third image, there is a shape of light cast on the wall the same shape as the lampshade - which is the only light source in the room. It's an image of higher contrast, and is mostly black.
The first image is mimicking a sunrise or sunset, taken at sunrise or sunset. It's an interesting juxtaposition to mimic a beautiful natural sunset in what appears to be gutter water with trash and maybe some chemicals in it. It could be making a statement on our issues with pollution as humans, and how at some point, this false sunrise will be the only sunrise future generations experience with these colors. Image two appears to be in this woman's bedroom, a place for her to feel comfortable and relaxed, but Nocito has placed her in a position that would make it difficult to stand. Objects feel strewn and messy around her, but she is mimicking a corner - angular but not necessarily rigid. The other objects being mimicked here are the door frame, the dresser, the bed, and the picture frame above her. She's naked from the waist down, but her shirt is draped so the camera doesn't see anything. Nocito also chose to pose her next to this painting that may have some relation to her heritage or may even be a relative. A few things come to mind when looking at this image: challenging comfort, female identity and sexual identity, cultural identity or heritage, and order amongst chaos. In the third image, the light places emphasis on the subjects's expression. The heavy amount of blacks and shadows in the frame would normally lead me to think of something daunting or looming, possibly scary, but the subject here is laughing. It could be a maniacal laugh, but it could also be a laugh shared with a friend - another different juxtaposition from what might be an expected situation. It could be a reminder to take things more lightly or to enjoy life, no matter the environment of situation.
I enjoy this series because it makes me rethink what a series could be. The images don't need to all be shot the same way in order to fit them together. They kept me looking at the visible, and thinking about what I couldn't see, and what it took to get to the point to take those shots.
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