deadCenter Film Festival 2016

This exhibition deconstructs the short documentary, The Superlative Light (SXSW 2016), a film about photographer, Robert Shults, who went from homeless to home-owning artist after taking photos of the brightest light source in the known universe.

 Shults’ transition is examined in this installation throughout 4 specific mediums:

1. a traditional, 2D documentary film (13:23)
2. a virtual reality, full-immersion film that allows the viewer to experience the story in 360 degrees (13:36)
3. a photographic installation highlighting Robert Shults’ diverse bodies of work, including images captured on the set of The Superlative Light.
4. a behind the scenes video of the making of The Superlative Light  (3:02)

This show invites audiences to compare and contrast the documentary process across multiple formats. This approach deconstructs the nature of traditional documentary storytelling while simultaneously addressing themes of time travel, homelessness, and the photography process.

The Superlative Light: A Documentary in 4 Parts is the inaugural collaboration combining the talents of photographer Robert Shults and filmmaker Ben Steinbauer.