Welcome to n45Photo, my online fine art photography gallery.
I am a photographer and artist from Michigan, United States of America. I am first and foremost an artist and use the camera as a medium to capture fine art images and do not work as a photographer in a commercial or consumer service environment such as a wedding or senior portrait photographer. It is not my intent to denigrate anyone who works in such capacity but only to avoid the inevitable question of "how much do you charge for weddings". I learned my craft starting at high school with 35mm film, as well as medium and large formats at college level. It was a privilege to have studied photography in darkroom settings as well as digital photo imaging and printmaking under some of the finest photographers and professors in the field from the University of Michigan and College for Creative Studies.
Artist Statement
I shoot the frame cinematically, in a way to place the observer into that scene, with the intent that they experience being a part of the story whether it be a serene peaceful landscape or an interaction between people in a candid street scene. As a photographer, you write with light, freezing and preserving a record of the moment. As a member of the human experience you show the world how it is seen through your eyes.
I evaluate the scenes I try to illustrate carefully where my decisions on how to shoot are based on the light, composition and tonal values for each exposure and the mood I am trying to create or the idea I am trying to convey. I utilize a "decisive moment" approach to making photographs and I mainly work in black and white. The majority of the work is done in camera using the entire frame and rarely do I crop my photographs, the exception being square crop and deliberate photo manipulation for illustrative purpose but generally limited to techniques one would use in a physical darkroom. Digital developing is limited to tone, contrast, and minor exposure adjustments as per my film and darkroom roots.
My photographs are separated into two categories, the first being licensable images for use in application such as music album art or commercial advertisements. This type of graphic artwork is granted as "exclusive use" and I retain the rights to my work and I must be credited as the photographer but the licensee may use the images based on contract deal agreed upon by both parties.
The second are fine art images that are printed in limited runs and sold at galleries and personal showings. Every print has been signed and numbered by me. If you purchase a piece numbered "1/5", you can be sure there are only five in existence and will never be more. Every photograph I create has either been printed directly by me or meticulously inspected by me to ensure collectors of fine photography get the highest quality image and to make sure my original photographic vision stays true.