RECENT NEWS
Featured Artist Showcase!
I am proud to announce that I have been selected as a featured artist at the RAW Artists Minneapolis Premiere Showcase! Read more about RAW Artists and the event below:
RAW showcases are live events that feature hand-selected independent artists in all creative genres: visual art, fashion & accessory design, craft, film, tech, music, performance art, hair & makeup artistry, and photography.
Our international team works to plan, promote & produce each local eclectic RAW showcase in 70+ cities around the globe. Every showcase event is a snapshot of the creative culture from the area.
RAW Artists - Minneapolis Premiere
Revisionist Photography
Tuesday, October 1, 2019
I use photography to transform scenes so my audience perceives, thinks about, and engages with the world in novel ways. Most often, this is accomplished with long exposures and motion blur; however, recently I've been pushing my creative boundaries with a new technique that obscures details to reveal the essence of an object in its environment. The results remind me of the 18th- and 19th-century art movements of Neoclassical etching, pointillism, and impressionism. These artistic movements are difficult to replicate in photography, particularly in modern photography, as technological advances and innovative software operate in tandem to render impressively accurate, if not artificial, images with exceptional crispness and clarity.
Inspired by another of my favorite modern photographers, Pep Ventosa, I've been experimenting with blending images of one central structure or object, each of which was shot from a variety of perspectives, angles, or distances. This technique results in imprecise edges, obscured details, background artifacts, and distorted depth. At the same time, however, these images may provide a more precise depiction of the object within its environment, as well as the observer's experience as he or she engages with it over time. Contextual elements, such as the effects of light from different angles or the surrounding architecture or vegetation, can be lost in a single image, reducing the scene in completeness and accuracy. The technique I've been using captures the elements at the periphery and puts them front-and-center, in many cases, allowing the viewer to experience the scene in its entirety.
The images on the left are examples of familiar scenes revisited using this new technique. The upcoming series is titled "Revisionist Photography," with each image described as a "photo sketch." More to come in the coming weeks, but visit my booth at the Riverwalk Market Fair in Northfield, MN every Saturday through October for a sneak peek. Come experience something new!
Extremes of Long-Exposure Photography
Long-exposure photography is at the core of my identity as a fine art photographer as well as the Indie Photography brand. When I think of long-exposure photography, I generally expect exposures to be at least 30 seconds in duration with an upper limit of about 8 minutes; however, this range can vary considerably depending on natural conditions, the limitations of equipment, and the phenomena being photographed. Recently, I've challenged myself to rethink long-exposure photography and have pushed myself to utilize exposure manipulation in more versatile ways. Doing so has allowed me to capture dramatic, erratic, and mesmerizing motion (at one extreme) and subtle, expansive movement (at the other). Below are some examples of my recent long-exposure photography at both extremes of duration:
Streaking Through Downtown
Inspired by one of my favorite modern photographers, Joel Tjintjelaar, as well as the unique architecture that makes up the Minneapolis skyline, I set out to create a series of images that juxtapose the hardness of urban architecture with nature's endless softness. Using stacked ND filters, a rock-solid tripod, and a lot of patience, exposures ranging from 9 to 14 minutes brought this vision to light in a series I'm calling "Streaking Through Downtown." The photograph to the left is the title image and the first of this series. Exposed for 9 minutes, this image resulted in dramatic contrast and depth, creating a surreal effect by opposing the architecture's rigidity against the gentle streaming of passing clouds.
Dizzying Dance
Like moths drawn to a light, so was I to moths drawn to a light. On a walk downtown last weekend, I was mesmerized by the dizzying dance of moths under a lone streetlight. With the naked eye, their erratic movements created a hazy glow, but a 1/2 second exposure dismantled the glowing gestalt to reveal the unique contributions made by each moth. Discovering beauty in something otherwise unsightly can be quite powerful!
Overnight Photoshoots & New Prints!
Tuesday, July 16, 2019
I am continually inspired by the local and regional landscape (natural or otherwise), as well as the night sky. Over the last couple of weeks, I've taken advantage of the pleasant weather and clear skies to add a few new photographs to my portfolio. See below for details about the photoshoots:
Star Trails Over St. Olaf
If you've stopped by my booth at the Riverwalk Artists' Market in Northfield, you may remember an image of the Skinner Memorial Chapel, on Carleton's campus, framed by vibrant star trails. Several of you have asked why I haven't taken a similar image on St. Olaf's campus. Truth be told, I've tried capturing star trails over a few buildings at St. Olaf, but none of those buildings faced south. Therefore, these images were framed to the west, resulting in less dramatic star trails and an underwhelming effect.
At the request of someone who stopped by my booth last month, I gave this another shot in front of the Boe Memorial Chapel and was pleased by the result. The chapel faces south, meaning the image was shot facing north, resulting in a dramatic spiral around Polaris, or the North Star. Unfortunately, the front of the chapel is well-lit at night (unlike the Skinner Memorial Chapel), presenting challenges with foreground exposure. After a week of exposure compensation efforts, I ended up with an image worthy of sharing. You can see the image on the left, but I'd love for you to come take a look in-person at the Riverwalk Artists' Market this Saturday, July 20th.
Spiraling in the Dark
Last week I came across a location that exists at the intersection of architecture, art, mathematics, and nature. I patiently and eagerly awaited a clear sky and, as the sun began to set, drove a few hours away from Northfield to capture this location in all its glowing glory. On-scene, the spot radiates vibrant hues of blue and violet, but my love affair with black and white photography has not ended. Shooting in monochrome, the scene became even more dramatic, eerie, and captivating. Again, the resultant image is on the left, but it will be available this weekend in 20x30 and 8x12 prints, printed to true B&W quality and matted to 34x36 and 11x14, respectively.
First Photography Showing!
Saturday, June 15, 2019
Today, I held my first photography showing (ever!) and I had a wonderful time meeting other Northfieldians, Minnesotans, photographers, hobbyists, artists, and entrepreneurs. Thank you to everyone who stopped by my booth, flipped through my display racks, took a look at the gallery, picked up my business card, or bought a print (or two). I was overwhelmed by the positive reception I received and all of your kind words about and genuine interest in my photography. It is incredibly gratifying to know that others enjoy my work as much as I enjoy making it.
Thank you for making my first showing such a fun and rewarding experience. I'll be back at the Riverwalk Market Fair next Saturday (June 22nd) and look forward to seeing you there again!