Bret Aaker: Hyper Fake

The digital photographs are a series called Hyper-Fake. On first observation one might be fooled into thinking the subject is "real" but on closer inspection they are obviously miniature plastic models. The objects reside in a world of enigmatic theater, akin to models in a wax museum, except the context is askew; there is no defined place to understand them. The work is so fake that it starts becoming something other than what is obviously depicted.

To make the digital photograph I construct a scene using HO scale models, which I get from hobby stores. While constructing the scene I have a specific perspective in mind. I then light the scene using a variety of light sources such as LED lights, daylight lamps, and flashlights. Then I shoot the scene several times, using a digital camera, making small adjustments to the lighting and perspective. From the 15 or so shots I pick the strongest one and delete the rest. I then have the digital file enlarged, laminated, and mounted on dibond. Each digital print is in an edition of four.

--Bret Aaker, 2005

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