Average

This averaging project started as an exercise in image manipulation but quickly evolved into a project exploring static representations of larger collections of work, travel, memory, and the self.

How does the average of a set of portraits relate to the thought of self-image and memory? Can the average of a set of photos taken on vacation give an impression of place and mood to someone who hasn’t visited that part of the globe? Can averaging the body of work by a particular artist, or averaging work with a central subject from multiple artists draw any interesting conclusions, or at least raise interesting questions?

This project ended after five years of photos.

An portrait generated from the average of many individual self-portraits
The average of four years and 1,364 days of portraits.
An abstract portrait comprised of a series of vertical slices taken from many self-portraits
Three years of daily self-portraits. A slice from each portrait stacked next to each other, sequentially in the order in which they were taken.
Four years, every day, sequentially.
An abstract photo representing the average photo in India
The average photo I took while in India.
Array of medium format film photos included in the Average India photo
+32 additional medium format photos.
An abstract photo representing the average photo from Yosemite
The average photo I took while in Yosemite National Park.
Array of medium format film photos included in the Average Yosemite photo
+62 additional medium format photos.