Discover “photography as art.” It begins with a blank canvas of film/file on which, with detailed planning and logistical considerations that is meticulous and at times painstaking, the complete essence of a pre-visualized imagined concept is creatively constructed and staged, using only a camera, optics, and light to make a photograph. Like a sculptor with chisel and stone, only in this case the process ends when pressing the shutter button.
These photographs were taken during the years of making several series, including Double Vision, which is seeing the same Muse twice, interacting with or watching herself. I’ve included another take with the cello from that series to go along with Cello, Roses, and Leaves.
The Cabaret shots are the initial quick foray in photographic art. It is essentially a shadow play, keeping in mind how vital shadows are in creating depth, shape, dimension, and interest.
The 39 plates making up the “Illusions” series initiated in 1987 and completed in 1997. They represent the first experiments with many of the possibilities that could be applied in creating photographic art.
On the Rocks was an introductory session for Cleveland and I to become photographically acquainted, and demonstrated her own dedication to artistic expression.
This series is made up of photographs were the Muse is duplicated by two (multiple) exposures on a sheet of 4X5 film using a View Camera. The idea – for her to interact with her other self.
My vision was… I am an archeologist sweeping away looking for beautiful artifacts at a site, like they did excavating the Roman city of Pompey, then suddenly behold!
Talk about multiple exposures! The first in the series, with the Muse looking up, has thirteen. Oh, is that number nefarious? Actually it is my lucky number.
Photography by its Greek roots means “painting with light”, and this series represent a literal interpretation of this definition. The creating begins in a totally darkened studio.
These photographs are meant to be similar to the magicians act of sawing a body in half, only in this case mixing up the real human body parts in a single exposure of the camera.
