Analog Forever Magazine is pleased to showcase 42 images in this month’s online exhibition entitled "Joy”. Curated by Analog Forever Magazine Writer and Curator, Niniane Kelley, these photographs explore the thing many of us are lacking in today’s world: inspired happiness. The images selected interpret this theme in both traditional and unconventional ways that show you joy is alive and well in the world, despite what the news may tell you.

Niniane Kelley writes: When I was first tasked to come up with a theme for this month’s online exhibition — which was either 17 years ago or just at the end of April, it’s hard to say — the uncertainty and anxiety surrounding our new pandemic-driven reality along with the increasing sense of isolation following weeks of shelter-in-place were wreaking havoc on my mental health, a struggle in which I know I am not alone in experiencing. As I absently stared out the window, trying to imagine what kind of imagery I would like to see, all I really wanted was some sliver of hope. At that time the idea of joy seemed so out of reach; it was either a distant memory or some far-flung wish, but nothing that was in my grasp. But I figured together, just maybe, we could create a little reminder of hope and happiness.

The work which our community submitted was, across the board, so wonderful that it made my job terribly difficult. Every image I saw was special, heartfelt, and obviously precious to the artist; they are all worthy to be considered Joy. In going through all the submissions I was also struck by how many of the images involved water. Whether ocean, lake, or stream, water is strongly symbolic as a place of physical and emotional cleansing, and it is no wonder that so many of us are longing for that experience of washing away our cares and worries. Wherever you are right now I hope that you can take a little moment to find a bit of release and relief and allow yourself some joy, in whatever form it takes for you.

I would be hard pressed to chose a favorite image from this group, it’s usually whichever one I’m looking at, but I keep coming back to this image by Brazilian photographer Jorge Sato. This image is vibrant and exuberant, teeming with humanity, all anchored by the unbound euphoria of the dancer in the foreground as she is swept away on the wave of music and movement and connection of the moment. It’s an expression of the joy available when we can come together as a community and celebrate in our shared experiences. This form of joy may not be available to us right now, but we can revel in its memory and aspire for it again in the future.

~ Niniane Kelley

Gallery 

About the Curator

Niniane Kelley is a fine art photographer living and working in San Francisco and Lake County, California. A native of the Bay Area, she is a San Jose State University graduate, earning a BFA in Photography in 2008.

Drawn to photography for both the immediacy of the image making process and the intrinsic alchemy of the darkroom ritual, she crafts the majority of her imagery using traditional 19th century processes which give each piece its own unique character. 

After generating an extensive portfolio working with the human form, she emerged from the sequestered studio environment and began to focus on the quiet beauty of the North State rural landscape. Embracing photography’s implied narrative structure, much of her current work functions as a form of autobiography, chronicling her frequent, unencumbered explorations of Northern California’s pastoral and largely unpopulated interior.

But never one to cease experimentation, she is also simultaneously developing new complimentary bodies of work using Polaroid and plastic cameras to bring fresh perspective to both her figure and landscape work.

In addition to producing photographic images, Kelley is also extensively involved in alternative processes education and research. Often teaching workshops in the Bay Area and surrounding environs, she most recently worked as a photographer and manager at San Francisco’s tintype portrait studio, Photobooth.

Connect with Niniane on her Website and on Instagram!