When Traer Scott shot the photo that would be the inspiration for the “Natural History” exhibit, it was initially a happy accident of the photographer’s eye.
A few years ago, Scott was on vacation in New York with her husband, and the two were at the Natural History Museum. The photographer wanted to capture a photo of one of the dioramas, but instead caught a bit of magic.
“Instead of a good picture of the diorama, what I actually got was my husband’s reflection juxtaposed against the diorama,” said Scott. “As soon as I looked at it I thought it was really amazing.”
It’s this juxtaposition of living viewers and the lifeless creatures on exhibit that make up “Natural History,” which is on display at the University of La Verne’s Irene Carlson Gallery.
Though the images border on surreal, there’s no photo editing involved. Scott shot all of the photos in-camera with a single exposure, relying heavily on the flash placement and reflection to achieve the necessary effect.
The exhibit is curated by Stacey McCarroll Cutshaw, who notes that Scott’s work examines the relationship between the viewer in the reflection and the inanimate specimens they are viewing.
“There’s something in the photograph that represents this interaction,” said Cutshaw.
“They
end up being in the same space because of the nature of the photograph,
and there is this dialog between who is looking at whom. The audience
becomes a kind of specimen as well.”
The
exhibit features accompanying reflection essays by assistant professor
of psychology Aaron Baker and assistant professor of anthropology Kanya
Godde.
Scott’s
work has been featured in National Geographic, Slate.com, Popular
Photography and much more. She’s an exhibiting artist, teacher,
freelancer and bestselling author.
The
exhibit is on display through April 4. The Irene Carlson Gallery is at
1950 Third St., La Verne, on the ground floor of Miller Hall.
Gallery hours are 9 am to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, as well as by appointment.
Pandas, 2010, arch val nkjet pr nt, 20 x 20 nches.
