Abe Morell: Photography

When I went to Abelardo Morell's website, I was looking for a few examples of his work that had to do with the camera obscura. Instead I found not only a massive body of work dealing with that one technique, but also a whole website of brilliant photography. Morell plays with light and perspective in his photos. He starts with a theme and builds on it with each work. Each individual photo tells a different part of the story.

In his camera obscura work, one collection I have to rave about is titled "Tent Camera". It appears that he has made the camera obscura technique work in a tent. He has traveled to rooftops, city streets, etc., getting incredible shots!

Tent-Camera Image on Ground: View of Rome from the Spanish Academy, 2010 (Abe Morell)

In the section called Light & Time, Morell has showed photography's ability to manipulate light and time. He makes us feel the movement that once happened in this artwork, and even feel that it is still happening/about to happen.

Motion Study of Hammer Impressions on Lead , 2004 (Abe Morell)

I was touched so deeply by the images in "Childhood" that I really believe he is one of the most inventive photographers (and artists) of the post-modern era.

Laura and Brady in the Shadow of Our House, 1994 (Abe Morell)

Here's one last image, though I could choose so many, from "Money" and "Theater" particularly. This one is from the "Alice in Wonderland" set.

Curiouser and Curiouser, 1998 (Abe Morell)

In this collection and others he becomes a sculptor, collage maker and a photographer. He uses various media to create the most "realistic" fantasy possible.

All of Abelardo Morell's photography is multidimensional. As you can tell, he not simply 'taking pictures', he is making them with his bare hands. He is connected to each one in a way that is palpable to the viewer. It is nice to see that there are still some cerebral pieces out there by truly smart artists.