Radical Play Ii, Bailey Townley, 2019

• Prize
  Bronze in Advertising/Self-Promotion
• Photographer
  Christopher Paul Brown
• Technical Info
  Canon Eos 5ds, Sigma 35mm Lens, Adobe Photoshop Cs6
• Photo Date
  2019

Radical play is a simple and direct approach to creating alchemy/art. It bypasses the ego and mind and directly addresses the emotions, the senses and the soul. I began working with model Bailey Townley in the spring of 2017. I found her athletic and graceful with the presence of a dancer. She proved adept with flinging colored milk and grains and leaping about. My intent was to capture her at play and she embraced that intention during the two shoots of this series. In post I primarily used the polarities intent/openness, obscure/reveal and work/play. Serendipity made its appearance.

Christopher Paul Brown identifies as an alchemist. He also sees himself as a primitive hunter-gatherer rather than a modern urban agrarian. Relying on serendipity and synchronicity in lieu of elaborate planning, he seeks to uncover the unconscious and dimensions beyond the familiar three. He completed a BA in Film in 1980 and his first solo photography show exhibited in 1985. He describes his approach as Radical Play and he employs polar opposites such as intent/openness and obscure/reveal to allow paradox and invite the flow of alchemical energies while he works.