Kimberly Schneider Photography

Since many of you followed along, as I made The Many Rings of Saturn - during my Artist-in-Residence for Frames Magazine. I thought you would appreciate being the first to read my new statement on this 26 image subseries of Fire & Ice

Statement – The Many Rings of Saturn

The Many Rings of Saturn was born during a session with a printing student (in July ‘22) and is basically an in-depth study utilizing my self-invented processes with ice (and various ice concoctions), as well as a sub-series of my ongoing Fire & Ice series, which is literally made with fire and or ice, as well as other materials.

Prior to covid, I specialized in “spiritual landscapes,” primarily shot on true infrared film. I began making photograms with alternate light sources in June 2020, due to having an unfinished darkroom at the time. 4.5 bodies of work later, my photograms have received quite a few awards, and are actually how I make my living these days (I teach experimental photograms remotely for the most part).

I actually think of my photograms more in terms of sculpture as I build up my images layer by layer; I also work my materials a bit between (and sometimes during) exposures. These 3 unique silver gelatin prints were made with ice, flower/glitter/spinach infused ice, sand, glitter, and flowers. These particular triple exposures were made via a dripping candle or firework led.

The Many Rings of Saturn is so new that I literally just completed it LAST WEEK, during my recent (virtual) Artist-in-Residence for Frames Magazine, which was literally shot via Zoom from my darkroom; the 5-part residency just ended last week. When I began the A.I.R. in early August, I was 4 prints into this sub-series; In less than a month, I managed to not only complete the work (which was not the only body of work covered during the residency) but have also edited the series down to 26 prints and debuted it via the magazine.

All of my images are essentially subconscious self-portraits (or natural equivalents), which reveal themselves during my printing process. I fell into photography a lifetime ago by way of philosophy (mainly eastern religions) and it found its way into my work early on, and never left. That said, my titles are important, but they have to come to me. It’s an organic part of my process. Further, with my photograms, I never even know the orientation of an image for sure until the title comes to me. These 3 images are the first titled prints of the series.