Tyler Shields

​​Silhouettes marks a venture from his previous portraits and photographs, which revolve heavily around vivid expressions. He writes, “I’ve spent the majority of my photography career avoiding harsh shadows in an image, but the series changed all that it was no longer about avoiding the darkness but creating it.” Even in a new form, Shields’ affinity for glamor shines through. The shots have the same timeless feel as some of his other photographs; one he describes as feeling like “[they] could have been taken yesterday or 50 years ago.”

There are levels of dualism in the images Shields creates. The obvious contrast of light and dark speaks to the sense of freedom that’s found in anonymity. By focusing on form, Shields is able to create something from nothing and achieve the same level of storytelling as his previous collections. His pieces manage to conceal the hard work that goes into the final product. Shields insists there’s a difference between “taking an image” and “making an image.” From finding the right film, camera, and light combination, to timing the perfect shot, there were many trials and errors that had to be overcome for his vision to come to life. As Shields says himself, “If hard work is done correctly the viewer see’s only effortlessness.”