The abstract photography of Aaron Leitz’s Homage series began as a simple studio practice and as a tribute to Josef Albers. Adopting Albers’ strict compositional guidelines – a few basic square shapes nested within one another – allowed Leitz to focus on the photographic process, with a simple starting point from which to experiment the interplay of light and color.

The compositional constraints have a grounding effect on the overall piece; with the squares providing a visual anchor for the more dynamic interplay of light and color that occurs during the creation of the photograph. This series of work combines the emotional qualities of painting with the technical limitations and inherent qualities of photography.

Each Homage piece is a photograph of a layered arrangement of shapes hand cut from sheets of cellophane, tissue and paper. The collages are then lit from varying angles with varying intensities. Experimenting with the number, position and intensity of the light sources changes the reflectivity and transparency of the collages; adding another dimension for exploration. Each Homage piece is created during a single exposure of the camera.

(Aaron Leitz)