Photographs in the series have been captured on 4x5 film, many utilising exposure times upward of 1 hour.
The Blood is on Your Hands is a series of works that are intensely personal and explore the profound emotional and psychological impact of child abuse and the resultant loss of self.
At once hauntingly beautiful, the works take on a sinister undertone by their allusion to something darker having taken place, leaving the viewer doubting the apparent calm and beauty of the image. Why is a child's toy left abandoned and floating in a pond?
A child's toy is a symbol of innocence, playtime and ultimately happiness but this association is completely revoked by its placement in the solitude of the landscape.
What has taken place in the scene prior to the photograph being taken?
This series has been inspired by the experiences of those who are closest to me.
Samuel Edward Burns
Born Sydney, Australia 1979
Samuel Edward Burns is an artist working in the photographic medium. Primarily self taught, he chooses to shoot on traditional film based large format 4x5 and panoramic cameras which offer a slow contemplative method towards his photography.
Initially drawn to landscape photography for its contemplative nature, he travelled extensively around Australia and North America on solo journeys, allowing him to delve into the emotion of place and time.
His work has developed into an exploration of conceptual ideas and an underlying urge to portray human emotions whilst also staying close to his love of the introspective nature the landscape allows.
Sam currently resides in Sydney as a commercial photographer specialising in location and architectural photography.
