Jason Kummerfeldt grew up in the Napa Valley region in Northern California and spent half of his adult life in Southern California. Surrounded by the desert, he was inspired by the often changing landscapes and the infrastructure of the deep wilderness. It is not uncommon for neighborhoods to be built and shortly thereafter abandoned due to geopolitical forces and the strong, unpredictable winds from the Mojave Desert, which add an additional challenge to life in this region. With "Alive from the Desert," we aim to bring to life the profound beauty hidden in the American wilderness.
The 32-year-old photographer studied visual effects and animation and eventually worked in Hollywood, where he worked on TV series and films such as "Loki" and "The Batman." However, his interests inevitably shifted towards photography, and he decided to leave the film industry behind to focus on his true passion for analog photography.
Inspired by his own backyard, Kummerfeldt explores forgotten landscapes, abandoned structures, and decaying relics that tell stories from the past. The captivating world of the American desert showcases the unsettling beauty of lost places. In "Alive from the Desert," Kummerfeldt uses the often overlooked and neglected to create a canvas for his photography. Through endless sand dunes, crumbling walls, and abandoned corridors, Kummerfeldt invites viewers to reflect on the passage of time and the beauty that emerges from decay. This project encourages reflection on the impermanence of human endeavors and the resilience of nature in reclaiming its space.
The diverse selection of analog films and media used in this collection adds another layer of depth to the narrative. From classic black and white negatives to vibrant infrared color positives, from 35mm to 8x10 large format, each film type contributes a unique character to the images, enhancing the visual storytelling.
As you explore "Alive from the Desert," allow yourself to be transported to the forgotten corners of the American desert, where remnants of the past exist in a delicate dance between time and memory with the present. Jason Kummerfeldt leads us on a journey to the heart of forgotten places, an exploration of the invisible, and an ode to the enduring spirit of a bygone era in the backyards of America.