Ben Davis recently moved to New Jersey after graduating from Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) with a BFA in Fine Art Photography and a BS in Photographic and Imaging Technologies. In addition to his normal school work he was an editor of Draft 13, an annual student run publication at RIT. He is a visual artist working in the mediums of photography and bookbinding. His current focus is still life images, whether they are found or constructed. The work he creates seeks to show objects or everyday scenes from an alternative perspective, giving a new meaning or life to them. He is consistently drawn to the mundane in an environment. The photographs give a personality to the objects and act as a portrait.
Garden State
The main goal of this project was to begin to explore the urban sprawl of Jersey, also known by its contrasting nicknames of “Garden State” and “Armpit of America”. After graduation, I immediately moved to New Jersey to begin a new job. The project began as a way for me to familiarize myself with my new home and to stay in practice. I did this by shooting every day after work in my neighborhood and the surrounding areas. It was also a therapeutic way for me to have something familiar after moving to a new place. These sometimes minimal and simple images are my way of picking out details in an over commercialized environment and expressing how I view my new temporary home. I am naturally drawn to the seemingly ordinary in our everyday settings and enjoy the challenge of making it photographically interesting.
To view more of Ben’s work please visit his website.