Lachlan Smith
Narrabeen Sports High School
THE TABLE
Photomedia
Digital photography
My body of work analyses society's evolving connection with the table in both religious and secular contexts. As ties to religion diminish, we risk losing touch with profound concepts such as communal gathering and fellowship around the table. Contemporary lives are characterised by constant motion, a hurried rush to depart. My work invites reflection on the profound importance of the table, resolute, unmoving, poised to welcome us all. It represents a scenario where we linger a little longer at the table: the moments might not be as blurred and perhaps the world would be revealed with a bit more clarity.
Marker's Commentary
The Table is a photographic series that underscores the table's pivotal role in domestic and societal interactions. The initial frame from a series of five, presents the inception of a table in profile, rendered in black and white to emphasize its minimalist essence. This choice accentuates the table's foundational simplicity, drawing the audience's focus to its stark, unadorned form. Progressing to the second frame, the table is adorned with a styled still life. In stark contrast, black and white figures in motion blur past the still life, their hurried movements rendering them almost indistinguishable. They remain oblivious to the table's silent invitation to sit, share, and reflect. The shift to colour in this next frame infuses warmth and beckons the audience to engage more deeply with the scene. Subsequent frames return to black and white, symbolizing the fleeting connections in a busy world. The once-vibrant still life fades to monochrome, representing the loss of warmth and human connection. The final frame reintroduces colour with a solitary figure gazing at a half-full wine glass, symbolising lost balance and introspection in modern life.
The composed and staged panels showcase excellence in camera craft, evident in the deliberate use of slow shutter speeds, a technique that accentuates the motion blur of the hurried figures. This choice not only highlights the contrast between the still life and the transient nature of the passersby, but also drives the conceptual intent of the work. By capturing the fleeting, ghostly silhouettes against the serene, static elements of the table, the photographer masterfully conveys the tension between permanence and impermanence, inviting the viewer to ponder the deeper implications of time, connection, and reflection in our daily lives.