Holger Thoss • New York City, NY, 1992

Todd Weinstein • Arrows, New York City, NY, 2019

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Influence is standing next to a person smoking. Being a breathing human, I will
inhale some of the smoke that is lingering. I may like the smell and taste. I may dislike it. It will
trigger emotions and memories. I can hold my breath to not inhale the smoke but at some point,
I have to start inhaling again. I may choose to move closer to the person to inhale more smoke.
I may choose to walk away from the person to inhale less of the smoke. I may become aware of
the hazard that the smoke presents to my body. I may become aware of the pleasure the
smoke gives me. I may choose to keep my body healthy and move into clean air. I can choose
to enjoy the pleasure the smoke may give me. Breathing is not a choice.

Bio:

Holger Thoss has been telling stories with photography for 30 years. Every story is a new beginning. He always made handmade books with his photographs. He has worked intensely with designers on creating photographs for printed media. He developed his “family panorama project” to reinterpret photography to his particular way of seeing, reconstructing memory, and loosening the restriction of linear time.