Joel Rea

“Portals” the first edition (1/3) is being displayed/auctioned at @ChristiesInc till Tuesday. “Portals” is a single exposure taken in the lava tubes of Death Valley. In a cave carved by ancient lava, sunlight and fine particles of dust create these unique blades of light. The combination of special factors that bring about this magnificent effect is in contrast with the person (who happens to be me in the photo) on their phone, lit by the same quality of light, but from a different source. To me, the balance between these two points of focus is meant to conjure questions about consciousness, technology, and our planet. A phone, too, is made of a special combination of earth and light—but what types of trance do we find in these different portals?