About

Biography- Joey Aronhalt is an Akron, Ohio based film photographer. He is currently pursuing his Bachelor in Fine Arts Photography at the University of Akron. His work has been shown internationally in countries such as Italy, Greece, and South Korea. All of the work that has been shown in these countries was created through the use of medium format film, which is his primary medium. Through the use of the film his primary goal is to make the viewer question what is going on.

Expired Eclipses- Every photograph in “Expired Eclipse” was created on August 21, 2017 during the Great North American Solar Eclipse.  Most solar eclipse photographs look almost indistinguishable. This repetition was avoided by capturing the eclipse with expired 120mm color film; Expired film lended the possibility to portray the entire event in a much different way. In such a different way that the event appears otherworldly or post apocalyptic.   

  Solar Eclipses have been recorded and predicted to occur by some ancient civilizations, Babylonians specifically, hundreds of years BCE.  For many civilizations this event was not as well documented or understood, such an event could drastically change the construct of a community's views and beliefs on almost everything. Even with eclipses being documented for thousands of years, there is still great mystery behind them.  Such as their effect on nature.

The Expired Film created a variety of post apocalyptic esc colors in the series.  The different colors portray the eclipse in a different form, a way that is not redundant like other eclipse photographs.  The different views of the eclipse, from the clouds burning around the crescent sun, or the shimmering blue perfect sky help invigorate a different outlook, one of magnificence, mystery, and power; feelings many cultures would feel during an eclipse they had no understanding of.

Insertion- In this collection of photos titled “Insertion of the Night”, the goal, is to force the viewer question what they see and foster more questions beyond the surface level. This is accomplished through the insertion a the blank sheet into different environments testing the relationship that is created between it and its surroundings.  

The sheet, in many photographs, could be perceived as a surrogate for a human.  This surrogate can direct the viewer's questioning to a much more personal level as to what there relationship with their environment is.

Beyond personal reflection the sheets also stand alone representing a nonspecific, timeless moment. This ambiguous moment changes though the  varying relationships the sheet makes in each composition can create its own individual narrative though obstruction, masking, blocking, or simple cohesion with the environment it is in.

There and Lack there of: Impermanent Marks-
Social constructs can manipulate our perception of the world unknowingly, sometimes negatively, other times positively. When these predisposed constructs are eliminated, how will what will be perceived be interpreted? Through the use of impermanent marks this surrealistic reincarnation of the world can be manifested in an extremely mailable form.

Impermanent Marks are realized through the exploration of the relationship of time, energy, potential energy, and space, and how these elements can be utilized in a natural environment. Each composition takes on its own relationship with its surroundings allowing many individual performative and specific negotiations with the environment to transpire, while each composition shares the communality of a natural environment, while lacking concrete naturality. The disruption and cohesion of natural space, with the insertion of color and form, allows the veil to take on a role more extensive than a simple disruptor, and instead an artifact, sculpture, or sometimes a spacial glitch.

This spacial glitch or impermanent mark exists and then it doesn’t. Color and luminance corrupted and exposed its environment, but only for a temporary moment leaving an impermanent mark. After this moment is realized, the construction of the moment, it withers away into nothingness. It is there in form, but lacking place ultimately lending its way to a nonspecific moment.

Everything holds its own time and place. This idea of time and place carry the identity of the subject matter of how it will be understood and what it is to be compared to. When this idea of not only place, but time are removed how does it communicate? When stript of all social cues how will it communicate? When there are no social constructs to aid in the interpretation, how will it be read? The interpretation is open, but still exists solely for the interpreter.

Am I a Product of My Environment- Ongoing exploration of personal identity and the direct influence my surroundings have on me. Lending the question, am I a product of my environment?

Akron 24- Akron is constructed of 24 different neighborhoods.  Some large, some wealthy, some old, some diverse, some young,  but all of them more similar than not in their construct. One of the largest differences between these areas is the way that they are viewed.  Viewing a place subjectively from an outside lense is very dangerous. The perception of crime, or danger, in an area carries with it a heavy weight, for said area.  However the area is perceived, it will from there carry with it those allocated stigmas whether positive or negative. Many neighborhoods in Akron are viewed as unsafe or dangerous.  As a result an entire overgeneralizing blanket is cast upon a neighborhood hindering its growth. The perception and stigmas that these neighborhoods carry, regardless of their truth, become their reality.