Photographic artist statement
With my photographs I am attempting to create novel images that have elements of mystery or wonder. Often in an image from nature it is not clear what it is “of”. For me, the image is shapes and colors and abstract design and composition. I’m hoping that my photo begins to approach the order in chaos of my paintings.
I love to photograph in nature but not often big vistas, rather more intimate meditative moments, framed in the camera. But I also love photographing people and street photography. My method is not always to find candid moments, but to do street portraits as well, wherein I ask to photograph the person. I try to include both smiling and serious expressions on the subjects’ faces in the portraits.
Much of the delight in photographing people is the willingness of about 70% of people asked to say yes to being photographed. It renews my faith in the goodness of people. And sometimes we speak for a while in a fuller connection. After a street session I am often tired but elated with the process.
A great deal of my expertise comes from taking the online courses by Laura Valenti. The interest in finding mystery and wonder has been given to me by her courses. I was originally wanting the make photos like the nature photographer Eliot Porter. Later I was inspired by the New York street photographers, Diane Arbus, Gary Winogrand, Bruce Davidson, and many others. Finding a strong image from the busy activity on the street, the chaos, is a wonder and very exciting when it happens
I love to photograph in nature but not often big vistas, rather more intimate meditative moments, framed in the camera. But I also love photographing people and street photography. My method is not always to find candid moments, but to do street portraits as well, wherein I ask to photograph the person. I try to include both smiling and serious expressions on the subjects’ faces in the portraits.
Much of the delight in photographing people is the willingness of about 70% of people asked to say yes to being photographed. It renews my faith in the goodness of people. And sometimes we speak for a while in a fuller connection. After a street session I am often tired but elated with the process.
A great deal of my expertise comes from taking the online courses by Laura Valenti. The interest in finding mystery and wonder has been given to me by her courses. I was originally wanting the make photos like the nature photographer Eliot Porter. Later I was inspired by the New York street photographers, Diane Arbus, Gary Winogrand, Bruce Davidson, and many others. Finding a strong image from the busy activity on the street, the chaos, is a wonder and very exciting when it happens