On Second Thought by Susan Lynn Smith

Issue 16

Much of my work focuses on observing the human imprints that exist within the everyday places we encounter. Though notably quiet, the photographs anticipate an impending drama or one just missed. In each image, a tension develops between ordinary perception and the ironic estrangement that can occur in these sites; the setting feels familiar, but remains ultimately distant or becomes absurd. To the passerby, the locations that I photograph do not suggest any obvious reason to linger. However, upon closer examination, I find that these often overlooked environments contain subtle incongruities. Through the construction of each image, I hope to reveal the peculiarity and anxiety present within the spaces we inhabit. I am particularly interested in creating images through which a sense of claustrophobia or humor emerges.

Susan Lynn Smith is a San Francisco, CA based artist.
To see more of Susan's work, please visit her website.