Molly Strohl celebrates the human form and celestial wonderment in intimate photographs of light.

It is an often unrecognized fact that humans are made of the same matter and atoms as stars.   Our fragile human bodies are so much more connected with the universe than we commonly believe ourselves to be, and I want to re-establish that connection with Star Dust.  I had originally intended the series to be fashion driven, but as soon as I started taking photos, it was clear to me that the emotion was more important to me than the clothes. I also chose to shoot the images indoors because I wanted to capture the subtle haunting feeling of being closed off from the world.

Molly Strohl, Star Dust 1, 2013.
Molly Strohl, Star Dust 1, 2013

 

Molly Strohl, Star Dust 2, 2013.
Molly Strohl, Star Dust 2, 2013

 

Molly Strohl, Star Dust 3, 2013.
Molly Strohl, Star Dust 3, 2013

 

Molly Strohl, Star Dust 4, 2013 .
Molly Strohl, Star Dust 4, 2013

 

For this series I did not want to digitally alter the images, but rather experiment with the process of the physical print.  I first used colored gels and a flashlight contraption to create initial light spots.   After printing postcard-sized prints, I spent hours poking holes through the photos where the spots of light appeared to conceptualize how we are just as unique as a bright star thousands of light years away.  Finally, I shot the prints while shining a flashlight through the holes to make them appear more like stars.  The starry patterns and the original photos then became one and bound the human with his or her celestial counterpart.

 

Molly Strohl, Star Dust 6, 2013.
Molly Strohl, Star Dust 6, 2013

 

Molly Strohl, Star Dust 7, 2013.
Molly Strohl, Star Dust 7, 2013

 

Molly Strohl, Star Dust 10, 2013.
Molly Strohl, Star Dust 10, 2013

 

Molly Strohl, Star Dust 8, 2013.
Molly Strohl, Star Dust 8, 2013

 

Molly Strohl, Star Dust 9, 2013.
Molly Strohl, Star Dust 9, 2013

 

Molly Strohl, Star Dust 5, 2013.
Molly Strohl, Star Dust 5, 2013

 

Featured Image:  Molly Strohl, Star Dust 8, 2013

2 thoughts on “Molly Strohl: Among the Stars

  1. Colored gels, poking holes and flashlights … the process is as amazing as the final print.

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