Line, Form, Shape, Repeat, 2022
Silver Gelatin prints
Slemmons Camera Collection
Line, Shape, Form, Repeat is an exploration of visual composition aimed at capturing imagery beyond the camera’s conventional perception. Fundamental design elements—line, shape, and form—serve as universal tools of communication, transcending cultures and civilizations to convey messages both simple and complex.
Since the earliest forms of mark-making, from a single finger tracing patterns in the dirt, the line has been central to human expression. In this photographic project, the concept of a mark is employed to shape the exposure of light within an image. Through the deliberate use of in-camera masks, long exposures, and multiple exposure techniques, this work investigates the potential of basic shapes and marks to generate an extensive range of compositions.
The project integrates modern technology—laser-cut masks and 3D-printed film holders—with traditional analog darkroom techniques such as multiple exposure and light painting. The unifying element is the choreographed process that emerged through experimentation. Each exposure required the careful placement of various masks while simultaneously painting a surface with light. Parallel lines were incorporated into select compositions to introduce an additional layer of mark-making.
At its core, this work navigates the delicate interplay between control and unpredictability. Photography, by nature, adheres to scientific principles and repeatability, and Line, Shape, Form, Repeat leverages these qualities to push creative boundaries.
This method involved painting a surface with light while selectively masking the negative using various materials. The addition of striped patterns introduced an alternative means of mark-making. Once these tools and techniques were established, the creative process unfolded. Each exposure became a precisely executed sequence in the darkroom, involving two or three masks depicting geometric forms—stars, triangles, circles, or squares—crafted from nylon sheets or adhesive paper on clear acrylic. Variables such as exposure time, mask placement, and the rotation of the film back resulted in an expansive array of possible compositions.
Juan Fernandez is an artist based in Elgin, IL. He is currently the Director of Art and Design and Gallery Curator for Elgin Community College. As an art educator he has taught at numerous regional colleges and universities. His work references the perceptions of form, structure, and order in common materials and subject matter. His photographs are in the collection of Columbia College Chicago, the Rockford Art Museum, The Center for Photography atWoodstock, and in The Midwest Photographers Project at The Museum of Contemporary Photography in Chicago, IL.
He has also been exhibited in numerous national and international shows including theCatherine Edelman Gallery, Rockford Art Museum, Boecker Contemporary in Heidelberg, Germany, Philadelphia Photo Arts Center, the Griffin Museum of Photography, The Center for Photography at Woodstock, Angelika Studios in Buckinghamshire, England, and The Houston Center for Photography.