Liam Thinks!: Dramatic Swirly Images Of Fire And Smoke Capture Their Destructive Power

7 January 2014

Dramatic Swirly Images Of Fire And Smoke Capture Their Destructive Power

Controlled Burn 1

Photographer Kevin Cooley, whom we previously wrote about, has an intriguing photo series titled ‘Controlled Burns’ featuring dramatic swirly images of fire and smoke.

Cooley was inspired by the use of smoke signals as a means of communication during Papal conclave, and his photos focus on how humans interact with nature.

The fire and smoke are real and were created by Cooley. By capturing their images, he is taking charge of something that has the potential to get out of control, and the entire series can be read as a metaphor on the human inclination to control natural forces.

The photographer said, “Fire is a powerful natural force that we can harness for greater good, and it is the only Classical element that we can create on demand. Yet, when out of control, it has the potential for grave destruction. Controlled Burns is a visual representation of this inherit duality, symbolic of our desire to conquer and control, reminding us that sometimes we must fight fire with fire.”

The dark, thick billowing clouds of black, white, and grey come across as both mesmerizing and ominous, serving as a reminder of the devastation fire can wrought.

Cooley’s images will be exhibited as part of UNEXPLORED TERRITORY, an interdisciplinary exhibition exploring “the limits of human exploration and our desire to conquer and control nature”, at the Kopeikin Gallery from 11 January 2014.