“The only thing that makes life possible is permanent, intolerable uncertainty; not knowing what comes next.”
--Ursula K. LeGuin

Fear is one of the most fascinating facets of human life. What scares us and how we react to it reveals a lot about us. Spiders, clowns, heights, cramped spaces, etc. These things can make us uncomfortable, uneasy, or absolutely terrified. Fear doesn’t have to be obvious, and it doesn’t always have to be rational. You don’t choose what scares you, and most of the time you cannot control it. Some might say “I’m not afraid of anything,” but there is no truth to it. They simply do not know what fear really is.

I believe one of our strongest fears is uncertainty. Not knowing what, not knowing when, not knowing why. Our religion, our lifestyle, even our government is designed to address this fear. What happens when I die? Why should I exercise? What will happen in the Middle East?

If you’ve suffered through Algebra and Calculus (perhaps one of your fears), you know that a graph can represent more than just points plotted on an X and Y chart. It may be bacterial growth in a culture, or maximum profit derived by a business. You employ one method to discover many different results. Likewise, these Deviant Artists used one medium to “graph” (consciously or unknowingly) one of our most profound and extraordinary feelings.

a•byss
–noun
1. a deep, immeasurable space, gulf, or cavity; vast chasm
2. anything profound, unfathomable, or infinite

A vanishing point in art represents the abyss—that there is more to the scene (but what is it?). Vanishing points only exist when you are too far from them to know what lies ahead. It may be a simple matter of perspective, but it is certainly a remarkable phenomenon. To capture this uncertainty is far from easy. Some of these photographs resonate peace and tranquility, and others present a more ominous and frightening atmosphere. But they all contain an abyss. What that teaches us is that uncertain really does exist everywhere. It shows us that, ultimately, it is impossible to know what will happen next.





These photos were chosen without regard for the artists name or view count. Some may have been taken by well known photographers, others may have been taken by regular joes. I regret that I couldn’t comb through DA’s seemingly endless gallery for more, but it is humanly impossible. All credit for the photos goes to the photographers themselves. If you see something you like, please COMMENT and/or FAVORITE the photo. Remember, this is a community, not just a gallery.