self (boy-scout) and x-men, 2007 by Ryan Pfluger

Today's Hot Shot hopeful has made his appearance on this dear blog before. Now a proud owner of a Masters from the School of Visual Arts, Ryan Pfluger submitted work from his recent project looking back at his suburban rearing and how it has shaped him into the man he is today. The above two images are not a diptych, more a pair from his submission that I felt will strengthen my point below.

Ryan says that the series includes supplemental spaces to inform the self-portraits that make up the meat of his artistic agenda - what he refers to as the "breathing room between pieces." Now I don't want to pick on Ryan [I've spotlighted him twice for a reason] but I find it frustrating when artists water down their bodies of work in what become sprawling sets that need either a) a filter for flipping through or b) a good tackling by an adequate editor. Ryan's series is still in the holding-my-concentration range, and sometimes quantity and quality do go hand in hand. Sometimes supplemental images are necessary, especially when working with portraiture, even more so with self-portraiture. I thought, however, that Ryan's nod towards this frequent photographer insecurity was the perfect opportunity to vent.

Having said that, I encourage you to go check out Ryan's site, it is loaded with well-executed photography, that might tap into all THE 20-something males' nostalgic sides. And rather than take from his statement, I offer you some words from his info page: "Ryan feels that there is a strong, vulnerable connection between the individual, their sense of self, their surroundings, and their bodies."

While we keep our eyes on Ryan, get it in - we want to see what you do. Enter today!