Manipulating Light With Misia-O'
Written by Oliver Squirrell
At its heart, photography is the practice of manipulating light. With recent advances in digital hardware, software, post production and instagram filters however, this fundamental part of the practice has faded into the distance of our consciousness now that we can point, shoot and edit with a smartphone, often with little attention paid to the light in front of our eyes.
The practice of French-born photographer Misia-O’ however, provides a beautiful reminder of the pure joys to be found in the natural manipulation of light. Her process does not include any post-production, except for light blemish removal, relying instead on her profound understanding of light and colour to achieve mesmerising results.
Take the following image for example, which is part of her celebrated series “Different Shades of Black”.
“Diver” by Misia-O’ - Different Shades Of Black. All Rights Reserved. Copyright Misia-O' 2020
Providing Statement Art with a personal insight, Misia-O’ explained that the above image was created using nothing more than the natural light of a French summer morning streaming through the windows.
Further examples from her “Different Shades Of” series provide additional proof of the power of purity.
“Black and Blue” by Misia-O’ - Different Shades Of Black. All Rights Reserved. Copyright Misia-O' 2020
“Black and Gold” by Misia-O’ - Different Shades Of Yellow. All Rights Reserved. Copyright Misia-O' 2020
So how does Misia-O’ achieve such striking results with no post-production? The answer lies with quantum physics, mathematics and philosophy, as she explains further.
“As a child, I could never comprehend those mathematical formulas and theorems that we were force fed, with zero insight or understanding as to how these could be helpful in our day to day life or in our future professions. But I liked geometry. My Dad, a scientist and philosopher, always told me that math, geometry, space were poetic and congruent with philosophy - which I adored. He made me realise that the great philosophers have a deep understanding of science. This is what resonated in me when I started photography. I am fascinated by identity, its multiple layers and the perception of our beings but also of the multiple dimensions, universes and spirituality. Kant, Descartes, Victor Hugo, Camus, Voltaire... and the Dadaist and surrealists to name but a few... humanists, philosophers, scientists and artists are my inspiration. I exhausted my parents (still do!) with endless questions relating to art, physics, the meaning of the world, religions etc… Luckily for me, both are ex-professors and very versed with literature, art, science and philosophy.”
Misia-O’ studies trichromatic theory, the possessing of three independent channels for conveying color information, derived from the three different types of cone cells in the eye
“I was drawn to quantum physics to get an understanding of those very dimensions, of time, of light. I have started to study quantum physics to understand light, time, colours etc... in a deeper way, as to apply it as a tool in my photography. I speak regularly to my Dad who helps me navigate between geometry, maths and quantum physics, explaining me how ratio, perspective, the speed of light and multi-dimensions are created... and how I can use this knowledge with my philosophical quest on our multiplicity as human, our identity and on the perception of time. I am grateful to have such a gifted dad, able to help my über curious mind understand some of Life's complexities and mysteries with science, philosophy and literature.”
“I worked on the homothetic similarity with my Dad, to ensure any given shape I shot would be represented in the same angle regardless of the increase or decrease of its size: proportionality, dimension, ratio.” - Misia-O’
“My project of ‘Different Shades Of’ challenges the perception we have of what a colour, and non-colour, may be and how we interpret it with sometimes societal beliefs and/or prejudices associated - wrongly- to religions, myths and politics based on medieval theories no longer relevant. I approach the subject of colours on human beings and nature (a tautology in itself as humans are part of nature) from a mix of perhaps basic scientific research (after all I am not a scientist) and then look into its impact over centuries in culture, politics, religions/spirituality. My Mum helps me with literature and artistic references and it is fascinating to see how various colours tap into our deepest fears and greeds or elevate our souls, and how their meanings vary totally from one culture to another. When all is a simple perception of our retina with the variants of light affecting it.”
Light and Quantum Theory
As a Mathematics graduate now at the heart of the arts, I’ve often faced the perception that art and science belong in two very different camps and indeed two entirely different hemispheres of the brain. What Misia-O’ proves beyond all doubt however is that the strongest, most compelling work that truly reflects what it means to be a human being on all levels exists not in a vacuum of ‘art’ or ‘photography’ but in the melding of imagination, physics, identity, geometry, psychology and other elements readily present in nature and in the hearts and minds of the population at large.
Listen to our podcast interview with Misia-O’ here.
Explore the '“Different Shades of Yellow” exhibition here.
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#creativityforhumanity
Thanks to Misia-O’ for use of further images on our home page and the header of the Podcast page from the “Different Shades Of Black” series.