fotografia47's Profile

Bio

philosophy ::

My photography is where all my optimism resides. To quote Jules Renard:
“On earth there is no heaven, but there are pieces of it.”

Indeed. And since 1968 I’ve tried to capture as many pieces as I can in order to share with those who may have missed them.

Though I choose not to record life’s misery and decay, concentrating instead on floral themes and unusual twistings of structure and form, I’m far from pollyanish. I know, perhaps too well, the darkness lurking in man’s soul. Art, however, is the supreme human endeavor to rise above; to reach for the stars ... or at least to paint them
in all their glory.

That is what I try to do with my camera and mind’s eye. It’s a small attempt to stop the world for one instant so that others might see it as I did; especially the incredible ever-changing view from my window at Waterside Plaza in Manhattan, which I’ve been blessed to enjoy since 1973.

subjects/style ::

Reflections, floral close-ups, skylines, river views, urban landscapes, natural or man-made designs, portraits and, occasionally, animals ~ mostly in color, sometimes in sepia or b&w.

technique ::

Cézanne once said “The contour eludes me ...” But for my entire photographic life, it is precisely contour that most intrigues me. Digital photography has allowed me to approximate an artistry to which I’ve always aspired, in a way my hands do not permit.

Many of my earlier digital color photos are solarized, giving the effect of a water color painting. Most are presented as shot (i.e., very rarely cropped, or colors altered, via software manipulation), and no filters were used. Shaping images into circles, or elongating them into ovals upon printing, was my biggest reliance on computer-assisted design. I tend to crop my more recent photos, though, since the greater megapixels allow more latitude in that respect. Additionally, I'm now inclined to use post image manipulation vis-à-vis color balance, brightness/contrast and saturation/hue with many of the newer shots. I've also begun experimenting a bit with the different effects, such as kaleidescope, enamel, brush strokes and textures that are available in Jasc Paint Shop Pro 8. The compositional skills showcased, however, are entirely my own, and it is ‘my eye’ that rules every step of the way.

education ::

C.W. Post College of Long Island University ~ B.A., Philosophy | 1969

contests, etc. ::

5th prize ~ C.W. Post College Photo Contest, 1969
(image entered by my professor, without my knowledge, after I graduated)

Honorable Mention ~ Nikon World Photography Contest, 1975
(photo/name published in catalog)

#3541 www.hereisnewyork.org, 2001 ~ a collection of donated photos to raise $ for children of 9/11 victims
(name/picture --not photo #3541-- published in book of same name)

a personal note on collecting art ::

Should you be disinclined to buy a work of art unless you are assured it will eventually appreciate in monetary value, I suggest ‘tis a far, far better thing to acquire something your eyes will appreciate right now, because ART really is that important to the care and feeding of the human soul.

“When you have only two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one,
and a lily with the other.” ~ Chinese proverb.

Female, Born on April 15

Favorite Materials

Sony Cybershot f828k or Panasonic Lumix fz30k, fz50s, tz1s, tz3k or tz5k, Epson Ultra Premium Luster photo paper, Innova Fiba Print Matte photo paper, Hahnemuhle FineArt Baryta photo paper, Epson Stylus R2400, Epson UltrachromeK3 inks rated at 100 years