“Phantasmagorical” Photography by H. David Stein

In Stein’s current series he looks at the subject, closes his eyes, and imagines what the subject would look like in an alternative universe. The colors and the details merge to produce a symphony of abstractions that captivates the eye. The images Stein has created combine the very essence of photography with imagined environments. He defines “phantasmagorical” as being characterized by fantastic imagery and incongruous juxapositions. Anything “phantasmagorical” feels or looks like a crazy dream. Taking artistic license with color and other formal elements in a composition will surely remind us of the Surrealist tropes that continue to influence all of the fine arts today.