© Jamie Kripke
Brilio.net/en - The public knows Freemasons to be the worlds largest and oldest fraternity. Gaining access to find more about this secret society has proven to be a difficult task. Veiled in secrecy and hundreds of conspiracy theories make this society even more intriguing to anyone who is interested in such mystery.
Nonetheless, with a reasonable motive about his project, a photographer Jamie Kripke finally managed to get a permission to expose more of this society.
I met with a few of the members to explain my project and showed them a few of my previous pictures, Kripke explains. When they saw that I wasnt out to do a massive expos, they let me wander around with my camera and shoot. After that first shoot, they were nice enough to write a letter of recommendation that helped me get in with a bunch of other lodges, he adds.
Jamie got his first opportunity to visit the Scottish Rite Temple in Santa Fe, New Mexico back in 2006. He managed to take a picture of stairwell where he found the quality of light was very unusual, instantly granting a particular impression to him.
I shot a picture there of a stairwell where the quality of light was unlike anything Id ever seen. That image stayed with me and is what initially kept me coming back, looking for more of that amazing light. After a while, I got interested in the culture, and making images that speak to it, Jamie reveals.
Ever since he began to hunt more photos of the lodges in Wyoming, California, New Mexico also Colorado. Archaic ambient once again shrouds the whole sides; the scheme is possibly entangled between past and present.
The old buildings seemingly reserve the mysterious tradition reflected from perplexing contents scattered inside. The objects like the collections of masonic hats, antique medals and plastic coffee pots leave the place with more questions of whats actually happening behind the society.
Jamie understands how people see the Freemasonry with their various opinion and preconceptions about them. To make everything (a bit) clear is the goal of his project after all.
I like being able to show people the inside of these spaces, and see how it matches up with their pre-existing ideas of whats happening behind closed doors, says Jamie.
Most of the pictures were taken with a camera and tripod using available light. The small window sets the scene for how exclusive and cryptic the society is.
So, witness what Jamie found beyond the door...
(brl/tis)
