I view photography as a way to tell a story through my images. The words of the photographer Paul Strand, no relation, go through my thought process when a take a photograph. Strand said that he did all his composing before he clicked the shutter. That made an impression on me. I try to really look at what I am seeing in my view finder. Is the lighting the way I want it? Is the composition right? Is the subject matter speaking to me? I do not use a computer to manipulate my images. I am not a “technical” photographer. I pretty much go on instinct when I take a photograph.
I started my artistic career as a fiber artist creating large scale tapestries for more than 25 years. Many of my tapestries hang in public spaces, corporate and private collections. I am proud of my fiber works, but after 25 years, I wanted to explore new ways of expressing my artistic vision. Over the years I took classes in many different art mediums, painting, printmaking, ceramics, etc., but it wasn’t until I took a photo class to improve my “technical” skills with my camera that realized that photography was something I wanted to explore more. The class also covered “Alternative Processes” in photography. That opened a whole new way to tell a story using my images. Using Cyanotype and Polaroid emulsion transfer processes, I found I could print on fabrics which I could make into garments, quilts and sculptures to tell a story in addition to my more “traditional” photo prints. I am still enjoying the journey!
Contact me at cstrandartist@hotmail.com