Irvin Penn was an American photographer, especially known for his still life, portraits, and ability to image fashion. He was born June 16th 1917, but died October 7 2009. During his life he created many Galleries, all being a variety of portraits, still life etc. But one that inspired me was his cigarette butts.

He took a variety of images of used, old cigarette butts that he had found on the floor. The reason behind his imagery of such a common thing was that he had a mentor/father figure of his die of cancer (most likely lung cancer), and he noticed that throughout their life they always had a cigarette. Ironically Irving himself was against smoking and even created smoking advertisements in the past. After learning about his personal loss, he decided to commit to this gallery, and saw the “uncanny” relationship between cigarettes and people, as they give momentary pleasure and how hooked people where onto them.

What one of my main aims would be to link Anthropocene with the pollution of these used cigarettes scattered almost everywhere. Not only that but considering the amount of common smokers in this world, the smoke given out off into the air layers on top the way that the world is being treated, and how people even treat themselves.

(Notes)

Power Plant + Cigarette (link)

Smoke of Cigarette/Chimney

Skeleton Hand + Cigarette

(jerry uelsmann)