“Seeing” the Light
As an 8th grade middle school student, I discovered a talent for creating artistic graphite drawings from photographs of the people around me. Using a pencil and smudge stick I “painted” photo-realistic drawings and mastered my ability to reproduce the subtle transitions of light within the tonal range of a photograph.
Later, when I picked up my first camera, I was immediately struck by the similarity between the process of creating black and white photography and the process of drawing with graphite. I found that in both cases the artist creates the tone and mood of a scene by not only controlling what the subject is doing, but also by controlling tonal range and contrast of the overall image. In other words, how light shows on the subject. Both processes allow the artist to “capture” the light in ways that can have a truly arresting effect.
Photography as an Expression of Self
As I matured as a artist/photographer, I became even more interested in just what it was that made a particular image so moving to us as humans. Conceptually, I was aware that themes such as Beauty, Love, Truth played an important role in making a good image a timeless image. But it wasn’t until I connected with the real meaning that these themes held for me personally, that I was able to understand my true purpose as a photographer and envision my photography as an expression of my most deeply held values.
The love of a mother for her child, the joy of a child immersed in play or the pensive solitude of a bride in waiting represent themes which speak to us about the deeper meaning of our lives and the connections we have with the people we care about. We create symbols as a way to remind us of the meaning of our connections. My greatest reward is knowing I’ve created an image which captures the essence of the subject in a way which is unique and which has great meaning to the viewer. My greatest reward is knowing I’ve created an image that transcends visual appeal, captures the true essence of the subject connects an the viewer to something meaningful.