According to Emmett Orgass, there is a peculiar and intangible experience shared by every human being on the planet. Orgass, an avid photographer and a native of Landisville who now resides in Seattle, said he believes a mysterious veneer lies between each individual and strangers around them. Although the process of breaching this barrier may seem daunting, Orgass claims that it's well worth the effort.

"It feels like you have to break the bubble of surface tension before you can connect with strangers," Orgass said. "The process is stressful, but it's joyful. We all experience it, but we don't have the words to talk about it."

Orgass explores the concept of barriers between strangers in an ongoing series that is more experimental than his previous work. Through thoughtfully crafted photo shoots and avant-garde techniques, Orgass weaves the subjects of his work into images that are as surreal as the phenomenon that inspired them. "Shared Territory," one of Orgass' photos from the series, was selected among 47 other pieces to be featured in Photographic Center Northwest's 26th annual juried exhibition, "Being Present." The exhibition opened on June 27, and it was curated from more than 2,500 submissions from artists around the globe. Orgass won second place for his work, which will remain on display until the exhibition closes on Sunday, Aug. 11.

Orgass drew inspiration for "Shared Territory" and the other photos in his series from his experience moving across the country and exploring an unfamiliar city. Orgass moved to Seattle in February 2022, and he said his recent work is informed by feelings of isolation and confusion that he experienced as he braved a new frontier.

After graduating from Hempfield High School in 2017, Orgass moved to Clinton, N.Y., to study at Hamilton University. Although Orgass is now a prolific photographer with an expansive portfolio, he only discovered his calling to the camera four years ago as he studied abroad in Chile. Orgass said his mother convinced him to bring his camera on the trip, and he discovered a love for photography that continued to grow after the trip was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic. "We evacuated from Chile and I was back in Lancaster, but one thing I did was try to keep taking photos," Orgass said. "It's a good way to make the world seem a little less scary and to feel closer to the people around you."

Orgass' photography gradually evolved beyond pictures of his friends to collaborative projects with musicians, and the camera lens eventually became a vehicle he uses to explore the world around him. Shortly after moving to Seattle, Orgass frequented local concert venues and dive bars where bands were playing, and he recalled being distracted by the lighting, movement and energy of those environments. Over the course of five months, Orgass became more comfortable shooting in the music scene, and he began to cover shows as both a writer and a photographer for local music publication Ballard Vox.

To view more of Orgass' work, visit http://www.35mmett.photo.