Eye Am A Camera Surreal Photography by Edward M. Fielding
Surreal photograph “Eye Am A Camera” is the culmination of a lot of influences from the early darkroom work of artist Man Ray, Jerry Uslsmnan and maybe even crazy music groups like the Buggles.
What is Surreal Photography or Surrealist Photography?
Surreal Photography can often be blurred with Conceptual – therefore Shalora – the Conceptual Gallery Moderator has shared this:
“Surreal photography would be more about creating a world or image which goes beyond the physical world as we know it. It usually shows something which would be impossible in real life or tampers with the line defining what is real and what is imaginary. Surreal = beyond the real.”
Surreal photography has a long history in the medium. Man Ray is one of the most well know practitioners. Although he thought of himself chiefly as a painter, he dabbled in painting, sculpture, film, prints and poetry, and in his long career he worked in styles influenced by Cubism, Futurism, Dada and Surrealism.
André Breton once described Man Ray as a ‘pre-Surrealist’, something which accurately describes the artist’s natural affinity for the style. Even before the movement had coalesced, in the mid 1920s, his work, influenced by Marcel Duchamp, had Surrealist undertones, and he would continue to draw on the movement’s ideas throughout his life. His work has ultimately been very important in popularizing Surrealism.
Another big name is Jerry Uelsmann who has made a career of creating strange and wonderful surreal worlds completely in the traditional darkroom.
“I am a camera” the song
The Buggles were an English new wave band formed in London, England in 1977 by singer and bassist Trevor Horn and keyboardist Geoffrey Downes. They are best known for their 1979 debut single “Video Killed the Radio Star” that topped the UK Singles Chart and reached number one in 15 other countries.
On their second and last studio album, Adventures in Modern Recording, they had a song called “I am a camera”.
Buggles – I am a camera
Memories how they fade so fast
Look back there is no escape
Tied down now you see too late
Lovers they will never wait
I am a camera
I am a camera
Take heart I will never let you go
If you want to let your feelings show
Lovers all how they never broke your heart
You lose them if the feeling starts
I am a camera camera camera
I am a camera camera camera
There by the waterside
Here where the lens is wide
You and me by the sea
Taken in tranquility
Take heart I will never let you go
If you want to let your feelings show
Lovers all how they never broke your heart
You lose them if the feeling starts
I am I am a camera
I am a camera I am a camera
I am I am a camera
I am a camera I am a camera
There by the waterside
Here where the lens is wide
You and me by the sea