Vision and Style

April 2021

Rusted overpass, Albany

I recently presented to my students the concept of

vision and style. In introducing the topic, I dove into my own body of

work. In my journey as a teacher and artist during the past year there has

been a growth and refinement. Stopping now to think about this, the

vision is consistent but perhaps clearer. I have always been interested in

the forgotten, what has been left behind with all of its stories, functions

and importance. In this, I find my own metaphor of beauty. This thread

has been constant since I first started as a student of photography many

years ago. What has noticeably evolved is my style of presentation, my

visual language. In creating lessons, I am looking more to the essence of

the subject, rather than a grand description. I’m moving closer to my

subject, including elements such as line and metaphor to suggest what is

outside of the photograph. Working in black and white has stripped the

distraction of color but also strengthened the arrangement of pictorial

elements and attention to detail. These stylistic concerns have elevated

artistic quality.

Bicentennial Barn, East Greenwich

But the most important growth I have experienced is being more aware of

what it is I am trying to convey in the image, my message, my vision. This

is at the heart of all expressive photography; knowing the emotions that

compel you to make the photograph. The subject is of paramount

importance, but it is the ‘why’ of making the image that communicates

personal meaning. This is the reason we continue to make photographs.

 This is the lesson I am trying to pass on to my students and makes me

understand how much of a student I still am.