Selecting staples as subject matter to photograph never entered my thoughts. I was walking along a street I frequent often and stopped dead in my tracks at the sight of wooden utility poles texturized by staples. I had to walk up close, study them, and run my hands over them to feel the texture. I鈥檓 sure passersby thought I was just another weirdo seeing some strange vision they did not share.馃槅
I didn鈥檛 have my camera with me at the time, so I went back another day to photograph them. There were approximately four different utility poles, with several years of staples embedded in them and holes where others had previously staked a claim. The utility poles are located where the sidewalk is narrow and packed with people moving in both directions. These photos were taken in February 2020, just prior to when people became terrified of each other.
When I was shooting these images, I had to constantly move out of the way of people brushing up against me and nudging me every which way. I also had to be careful I wasn鈥檛 accidentally pushed out into traffic, that鈥檚 how many people there were. It鈥檚 now cemented in my memory that I captured not only images, but also the experience of being in such tight quarters with people who were completely fearless of being in contact with each other.
Initially, these images brought to mind insects and also birds. Now, I am reminded of people and life before.
KNOT STAPLED
STAPLE SWARM
STAPLE OCCUPATION
STAPLE MACHE I
STAPLE MACHE II
STAPLE MACHE III
LABEL STAPLED
STAPLE GATHER
STAPLE FLIGHT
All photos taken by Nine with a Pentax digital 35mm camera and Tamron macro lens.
