But in Dallas photographer Jenice Johnson’s world, gummy (with a “y”) bears are sacred beings. In Gummy World, her bears know no boundaries. So how does a seemingly sane woman go from eating gummies to shooting them? Easy. Boredom. She needed a break from a routine day at The Dallas Morning News where she works full time as an editor for Neighbors Go and turned to gummies for comfort.

But instead of sucking down a bag of Haribo’s, she posed a gummy bear on a stack of proofs and took its picture. And then another. And another, “I just started shooting the gummies I bought from our dinner and putting them in funny and realistic situations and it took off from there. First the cubicle, then everywhere...” Johnson writes on her Etsy site where fans can purchase drink cards, stationary and photos of gummies in their gummy world. (Cue “I’m a Barbie Girl” only with gummy lyrics.) "Albanese Wild Fruit Bears," are the best to work with says Johnson, "They have the best colors and look a lot more cuddly."

 

“I like to leave the bears doing what they do without forcing it too much. They can be fussy," says Johnson who admits it's hard not to eat her subjects. She also gets suggestions on poses, "Some pretty interesting ones have come along already...Gummy Gin Rummy, a gummy in front of a miniature tipi and a series of horror flick reinactments."

 

"I am currently working on Halloween gummies. I have a few already. "Gummy Ghouls" greeting cards are on sale at The Paperie & Co. at Mockingbird Station. And I'm really excited about a Christmas series. Gummy snowmen, gummy tree ornaments, and I got a great suggestion of doing the 12 Days of Christmas! That's gonna be a challenge...I'm already getting giggly. More importantly I just remember it's all in fun," said Johnson.

 

Under Johnson’s artful eye, faceless Yellow Number Six and Blue Dye 34 have shown us their world. They daydream. Like sun sets and cry. They’re everywhere. Johnson says, gummy bears are, “coy, funny, playful, reflective and mischievous,” like humans. She’s not the only one who sees life in gummy bears (a Flickr competitor has quickly latched onto the concept) but her fans and customers can’t get enough of Gummy World.

 

And it’s been a blast says Johnson’s who hopes her gummy collection catches the eye of Oprah or even Ellen DeGeneres. Every girl has dreams says Johnson, "I would love to open a small shop one day where I can sell framed photos of the gummies. I do well with that concept at art shows. And greeting cards and prints of course! Plus I can see those gummy faces on everything from mouse pads (which I've sold) to ceramic tiles."

 

As for a future with other candy products, "Gummy worms have come up as a suggestion but I can't see myself working with anything other than my bears. But the idea of posing gummy sharks sounds fun too."   

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