Artist Statement
Stories Told in Things Left Behind: A Disappearing American Landscape:
Digital photographs, shot with professional Canon and Sony equipment. Post processing is done using Camera Raw & Adobe Lightroom, HDR EFX Pro, and other processing software, to achieve a highly realistic effect without being over saturated or cartoonish. I've created several palettes for different effects: a Wyeth style pale palette with cool colors, and a warmer palette reminiscent of Remington and Russell.
Images are printed on Moab Entrada Rag Natural, or canvas. The fine art prints are hinge mounted behind archival mats, and framed using Tru Vue Conservation Reflection Control glass, backed by Tyvek dust covers and hung with plastic coated wire. The canvas pieces are laminated to GatorBoard and framed using linen liners and rustic wood frames. The larger frames are individually crafted using reclaimed wood from our ranch in the Dakotas and other sources. I do all of my own printing on two Epson professional printers.
The entire body of work focuses on the absence of people in a rural landscape. The stories evident in the artifacts left behind are my subjects in a landscape that is often lonely and quiet. Each viewer brings his own experience when looking at these photographs. My goal is that the subtle manipulation of color, composition and content will strike an emotional chord with every one who views the work.
