The Focused Path and the Pursuit of Photographic Enlightenment

I want to share the work of a recent graduate of mine Ingrid Komisar, who is currently studying photography at Parsons School of Design – The New School in NY, NY. Ingrid was a voracious student all four years in the photography classroom. One that never tired of asking questions of her work, and remained equally constant in pursuit of answers with her work.

As I sit exhausted from spring break, trying to find the energy to teach in the studio, trying to inspire an energy in students who seem equally tired of the rigor. I was pleased to see new work produced by Ingrid while she was on break from the academic and less creative side of being a first year college student.

The yearning may have started earlier, but to my recollection, Ingrid became insatiably focused on photography as a career choice during her sophomore year in high school. And from that point on, I have witnessed a beautiful progression in her work. Currently amid her freshman year in college, stuck in core academic classes, she used what is often a time to drop all responsibility to instead work on a series of images. Not for a specific class assignment or any school related need. It was purely to feed her own desire to keep moving forward with her work. Ingrid’s path is indeed focused. With each step she is exploring new ground finding a sense of what moves her on the inside. I’ll leave you with this, a poem by Antonio Machado which seems appropriate.

Traveler, your footprints

are the only road, nothing else.

Traveler, there is no road;

you make your own path as you walk.

As you walk, you make your own road,

and when you look back

you see the path

you will never travel again.

Traveler, there is no road.

 

All ll photo's ©Ingrid Komisar 2017, to see more of her work go ingridkomisarphotography.com