Candice Burg was the grand prize winner of Reed Photo-Art Gallery’s recent "Figure Studies and Body Art photography contest." Burg was up against some of the finest, recognized photographers in the nation. Some of the competition facing Candice were artists; Tyler Stableford, Vincent Serbin, Wendi Schneider, and many more.
Not only that, this exhibition received such a tremendous response, that the gallery has decided to extend the show an entire month. The display will now hang until the end of April.
The winning photograph is somewhat disturbing yet hauntingly beautiful. Burg herself states, “It reminds me of a flower and a Japanese horror movie.”
The image is of a woman, bent over in an almost unnatural position, her spine strangely pronounced. There is an otherworldly beauty about the woman. Perhaps it is the luminous quality of the skin or the lovely shape her back creates in conjunction with her breast and the angle of her arm. The photograph gives the viewer a striking contrast in shapes and color.
When asked how long she’s been a photographer, she hesitantly states, “10 years” but really she has been shooting photos since she was a teenager. It is her hobby, her profession, her passion. Burg states that she cannot - not take photos. She is an artists artist.
As far as traveling around Denver and Colorado to find inspiration, she is definitely a wanderer. Burg likes to pack up her 2 ½ year old son in their car and just explore the city and the foothills, letting chance be their guide.
A spot she stumbled upon one day was just outside of Bailey CO. She was not looking for a place to shoot and was just on her way out when she saw a grove of shimmering aspen trees that seemed to go on forever. It turned out to be a magical backdrop for her to spend the afternoon with her camera.
Another favorite location Candice regularly frequents is the historical William N Byers Junior High School, built in 1921. For those unfamiliar with this local treasure, it is a registered Denver historical landmark. (located at 150 S. Pearl St.)It no longer serves as a school; in fact it is completely abandoned. Yet, because of its tattered charm and beauty, locals love to gather on the grounds. The old tennis courts have naturally morphed into a dog park, people come together for pick up games of basketball and to connect with one another. Burg finds the union of this old abandoned building and the energy surrounding it, an interesting visual study.
She explains that she likes images where something’s not quite right. Her images can be described, ironically, as whimsically macabre. Burg deeply wants to connect with her audience and she is definitely exploring the different sides of human nature. She is extremely gifted at capturing the spirit of her subjects and in doing so, does indeed, connect with the viewer.
The Nudes
For the "Figure Studies and Body Art photography contest", Burg used a Canon 40 D, shot at 125 with an F stop of 11. Using one model for all of the shots, they worked indoors for the entire session, using one strobe. For some of the shots, she had her subject submerged under water.
Ultimately she was looking to capture something unusual; something one wouldn’t ordinarily see, to evoke something unexpected yet beautiful.
Great art always speaks to you, intrigues you, leaves you asking questions and wanting more. Candice Burg accomplishes all of this in her work.
Look for this artist. It is certain that we will be seeing a lot more of her in the future.
Don’t miss the show at Reed Art-Photo Gallery. It is a must see.
Burg is available for portraits and commissions.
Historic buildings of Denver, CO
http://www.candycolored.net/portfolio/balloons/index.htm
Balloons
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