When the trend started a few years back where photographers started learning to shoot video, many people wondered how a still life photographer could utilize video and still make it interesting. Kevin Twomey has shown once again that it is entirely possible to do so by exploring yet another interesting subject, The Birth of a Gummy Bear. When I asked him about it, here is what he had to say.
“I look at food as a still life challenge, asking myself how I would represent it in a way that stimulates the senses beyond the predictable “mmm, delicious”. How might I evoke an emotional, rather than salivary, response?
The gummy bear imagery emerged after toying with ideas for a holiday card a couple of years ago, where I explored the after-effects of destroying
candy (mostly by smashing them to bits). Experimentally melting some pieces, I saw how beautiful they looked as their sugars liquified. That
led to the microwaving of gummy bears, which then led to my seeking a more precise way of melting: the hair dryer. As I strategically melted the
gummy bears for my still shots, I noticed how beautifully the thick liquid flowed. The dynamics were so compelling, I had to film them, not just
melting to their demise, but in a way that celebrates the creation of the beloved candy.”
candy (mostly by smashing them to bits). Experimentally melting some pieces, I saw how beautiful they looked as their sugars liquified. That
led to the microwaving of gummy bears, which then led to my seeking a more precise way of melting: the hair dryer. As I strategically melted the
gummy bears for my still shots, I noticed how beautifully the thick liquid flowed. The dynamics were so compelling, I had to film them, not just
melting to their demise, but in a way that celebrates the creation of the beloved candy.”
To see more videos by Kevin Twomey, link to previous blog posts about other videos he created or to his website.