o. g. arnold

Artist Statement:

We as people, in such a fast paced society, are in a constant state of rumination and reflection; looking at the past to find the answers of the future. It is becoming increasingly more difficult to just live in the moment and enjoy the life you are living. To laugh, to cry, to feel, to experience, to be vulnerable, to make mistakes, to forgive, to inspire, to dream, to create, to celebrate, to learn, to share, to find the beauty in the simplicity of everyday life; these are the fundamental experiences of living, that shape who we are, that give us our purpose.

In this series I am trying to capture the happenings of living in the moment. I have chosen to use a film camera, as opposed to digital, as it emphasizes this tactility to a moment in time. With film there is a finite amount of pictures you can take, usually 24 or 36 depending on the roll, so each frame is more valuable. You are unable to take a picture, immediately look at it, fix the settings, then repeat until you get the desired outcome. You must pay attention to the lighting, the shutter speed, the focus, and where the subjects are in the frame, to produce a single image that technically and fundamentally should turn out properly. I personally find that this process helps me to stay grounded in the moment, and to focus on what is in front of me instead of aimlessly pointing and shooting. It’s a gamble, and you have to play the cards just right in order to win.

Young, Wild, and Free is a film photography series, displayed as a set of trading cards, that showcases the fleeting moments of life as a young adult.