Picture Window at the Mattress Factory by Dror Yaron

GigapanMagazine.org  vol 2 issue 1

This image is also a large print I included in the "Gestures 13" exhibition at the Mattress Factory Museum in Pittsburgh.
The exhibition ran July 24, 2009 – January 10, 2010. See print in the gallery: tinyurl.com/gestures13 
The print was displayed on the southern wall of the gallery. On the other side of that wall is the room depicted in this image - part of the house neighboring the gallery.
In that sense this picture opened a window in the south wall of the gallery. Like a real window - it showed what exists on the other side of the wall - in this case, the neighbors' house.

I came up with that idea of using the Gigapan to create a window in the wall displaying the print before arriving at the gallery. I assumed it will be a street shot - showing what's outside of the building. The wall I was assigned - it turned out - was one that is shared with the neighboring apartment - which meant that in order to follow through with the window concept - I will have to Gigapan that apartment.

As I was about to knock on that door, the neighbor pulled up by the house with a car loaded with groceries. I offered my help in carrying the bags into the house, and asked if they mind if I photographed their apartment for the exhibition next door.

To my surprise, they immediately agreed. To my even greater surprise - the house was spotless clean - photo ready. So I could get right to work. The neighbor's daughters asked to be part of the picture. This is how it ended up being an environmental portrait.

In an environmental portrait one gathers information about the people in the shot based on visual clues in their environment. This is also true for this picture. What I find unique in this case is that a lot of what this family believes in and values is framed, posted and spelled out in words on the wall. So a big part of reading into this picture involves reading - literally.