Michael DeMaria explains Hayward’s technique by saying “A boat is empty, begging the viewer to climb aboard and take a ride, careening through a lake of dream imagery. Light, dark, tombstones, rays of sunlight… shapes from some distant land casting shadows that envelope the viewer. Life, death, chaos, order. One minute straight lines, the next, rounded curves – sensuality and logic dance together in this scene. Sexuality becomes spirituality. Do you dare get in the boat and begin the adventure of your life? Welcome. You have just stepped into the world of J. D. Hayward.”
The first photograph to catch the reader's eye is “The Asylum.” The picture is a mixture of black, white, and gray. The eye is pulled to the woman standing at a closed window. She is dressed in mourning clothes and looking out the window at a flying bird.
Artist Inspiration Comes in Different Forms
Hayward said his inspiration for the "Asylum" photograph came from an old movie he was watching. He said, “The inspiration for this bizarre photograph came from a vintage black and white movie I saw on cable. I picked up the film mid-way through the first hour, and so did not note the title. In the film, there was a scene depicting a very distraught and disturbed woman locked in her room, peering out a barred window onto a dark ominous sky. I concluded that there was a possibility of creating a still image that would convey this perception of lonely people, locked away and forgotten.”
Hayward was able to recreate the movie scene into a still portrait. He used a friend’s house that was once an old gothic hospital. The room he used for the portrait was perfect for what he had in mind. The props were already in place, which consisted of peeling paint and a staircase with a banister made of wrought iron. He used a mannequin for his model, that way he would not have to worry about the model moving.
Hayward described in detail how he developed the photograph in order for it to come out exactly the way he wanted it to. He says, “In the finished print, this woman looks as if she’s spent decades feeling like the solitary bird she spies out the window. She is empty, hungry, cold, and trapped. She’s dreaming of her life outside the asylum, and is a reminder of the insanity that lies around the corner in all our lives.” The photographed was manipulated in a darkroom and not digitally. The viewer has no idea of what Hayward did in order to turn the photograph into an emotional piece.
Using Light in Photography
The second photograph that attracts the viewer's eye is an empty rocking chair sitting on a large porch of a house on a plantation. Hayward surveyed the plantation that was once owned by family members. The survey assisted him in locating the best place for a photo shoot.
He noticed how the early morning light shined on the columns presenting long shadows on the porch. He felt this photograph would reveal an image of nostalgia and long hot summer days spent “rocking away countless hours.” This photograph is a good example of lights and shadows, which results in the feeling of days gone by.
Detail Used in Facial Expressions Brings Life to Portraits
Hayward included several portraits of people in his book. One of the more admired portraits is a close up of a woman who is a hundred and one years old. Noticeable, are the lines and wrinkles on the elderly face, which reflect the many stories of the woman's life
Hayward explained that he was only twenty when he took the photo of the old woman and how nervous he was. The woman took control of the photo shoot and wanted her picture taken sitting in her yard. Hayward stated "I was completely nervous, a fact I’m sure she picked up on, since she said she would make my job a little easier for me. ‘I’ll sing Porgy and Bess, a song called ‘Summertime,’ and you take whatever picture you want.’ With that, she started singing, and I clicked away.” Soon Hayward forgot his nervousness and produced an excellent photograph.
Hayward's book is informative and inspiring. In the day of digital cameras it is comforting to know that taking pictures the "old fashioned" way can be exhilarating and creative. When the creative challenge is successful, it leaves the dark room process much more satisfying. The amount of time spent in development is not an issue.
Hayward, J.D. Dramatic Black & White Photography. Buffalo, NY, Amherst Media, Inc., 2000.
Christine Musser - Christine is a passionate researcher and does not stop the research process until she has exhausted all possibilities. Her research has ...
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