On Longing Project

On Longing Images

Quote 1

"The body is the primary mode of perceiving scale."

This picture was taken in the summer before I left for college, when me and my best friend woke up for the sunrise one last time. I thought it was fitting because of the contrast between my body and the sun sitting above the horizon. While it is a bit of an obvious connection to the quote, I enjoy the direct approach with this one. I like pictures that manipulate scale with objects, especially for humor or lighthearted purposes.

Quote 2 

"Capacity of objects to serve as traces of authentic experience."

I flew out to California last year to see my aunt and uncle and their newborn daughter, and my uncle thought it would be fun for the two of us to take a drive out to Las Vegas. On the way back, we stopped at the border, and I got to catch a picture of the welcome sign. Sure, it may seem a little crude to be documenting my excitement and experience seeing a sign filled with bullet holes, but it goes a little deeper than that. The sign itself gained character in a dark and morbid way, and I was able to touch and feel its new imperfections. The trip itself was an experience, but I was also able to ingrain the memory of the sign through feel, and it really helped make the journey feel more authentic.   

Quote 3

"The souvenir reduces the public, the monumental and the three dimensional into the miniature, that which can be enveloped by the body."

About two years ago, I embarked on a cross-country trip with a few friends. We came across this store in Idaho, up in the mountains, with little figurines carved out of wood. I remember this moment very well, because I had no cash, and my debit card got declined for being in another state. I had to call my bank, and it took almost an hour to finally snag one of the little statues. Holding it in my hands, and resting it against my leg in the car was an amazing feeling. It didn't feel like a souvenir, it felt more like a memento of the time, and something to look at and remember the amazing people I met on the trip. 

Quote 4

"Nostalgia cannot be sustained without loss."

I have a folder of pictures with this kid, Teddy, sitting next to me, who I've known for quite a while. He was part of our friend group, the kids that I thought would face the world with me. I was so young, and dreamed that times wouldn't change. Sometimes I go back and look through the collection, and it makes me miss when we were younger and things were less complicated. Seeing pictures like this makes me reflect on the times when we could all laugh and smile, free of stresses and hardship.

Quote 5

"The place of origin must remain unavailable in order for desire to be generated."

This was taken at a flea market back in high school, right at the tail end of the second semester. It was up in the mountains of New Jersey, so it was the first time I was going to one way out in the middle of nowhere. The market itself was absolutely incredible, and had so many knick-knacks that I wanted to buy. After we left, I learned that it was the last time that particular market would be opening, so I would never get the chance to go to it again. Every time I see this picture, it makes me long for the experience again.