Collecting Images: Further Stumbling

In trying to find the Ellie Brown project I mentioned previously, I found this guy on flickr: Jason Travis. I really loved all his portrait work.  The subjects seemed confident, comfortable, and therefor the portrayals seemed true to their own spirits.  Maybe that's the case, maybe its not.  But what i stumbled upon in relation to Ellie Brown's project and my own interest in beginning this search was a bag project of his own.  A series called Persona. Instead of trying to sum this up I give you a Bio of Persona straight from Flickr:


[Persona Bio]

When he began taking photographs in November 2007 for his Persona diptych series, Jason Travis set out to catch up with old friends, learn more about new friends, and, most significantly, to capture a portion of their lives in terms of what each individual considered essential enough to carry around with them everyday.

Viewers of the Persona diptychs take a voyeuristic delight in not only glimpsing the items usually tucked away in bags and pockets, but in identifying with strangers by relating to the tokens they carry with them. Alongside the meticulously arranged items that each person carries, Jason situates a portrait in which the subject always seems confident and at home, comfortable in their own skin. In these snapshots, each person appears as Jason sees them, which is always beautiful. Assembling the Persona diptychs has not only allowed Jason to combine his love of photography with his knowledge of the uniqueness and beauty in each of his subjects, but also has allowed him to share this knowledge with others.

-Sam NeSmith

Melissa. Persona Series - Jason Travis

David. Persona Series- Jason Travis

Colby. Persona Series- Jason Travis

Ben. Persona Series- Jason Travis

Amelia. Persona Series- Jason Travis

I love the system that Travis has set up.  There is such a consistency in his style, (The focus of the background, the centering of the portrait, the neatly laid out objects) that the true point of the images, the capturing of individuality and exploration of usually hidden details is able to truly shine through.  The focus on the background of the portrait images is something I especially love.  It adds to the personality of the subject, without distracting from the portion of the actual person that we can see. Each is so unique, and I could spend hours going through each of them.  There is always something new that you can notice in the sprawled out items. As the bio points out, the viewer has the chance to connect to the subject, to associate on some level even with just maybe one of the small details found in the contents of the bag.  Like Ellie Brown, Travis titles each image simply with the first name of the subject.  He includes even less detail than Brown , but with the same effect.  It puts a name to a face.  I think it's a nice touch.