Photography & Art

I find photography to be the most fulfilling and exciting form of self-expression I have yet to discover for myself. I adore watching the world around me... and most of all, I love capturing moments on film. My passion is fuelled by moving subjects and living art... so I focus on people, places... and always work in natural light.

This was one of my favourite pieces at the art show... i loved the dance of the figure on the horse and how everything seems to just melt into the next... the distinctions becoming blurred.

Last weekend, a friend of mine asked me to take some pictures of artwork that she was displaying as part of a special Venezuelan Art Exhibition. She launched her Art Gallery a few years ago when she became passionate about various pieces and artists she discovered living in Venezuela. I don't know that I have ever encountered a woman with such an incredible eye for beautiful things... and even more for selecting art that has not only a lasting presence, but that has such wide public appeal. She has managed to convert her hobby into a business (or as she says: a way to support her addiction). And in the process she is turning me (and many others) into art-lovers. She has the perfect personality for her trade... as she does not seem to second guess herself. She sees something beautiful and she buys it... she trusts her gut and her first impression... and she allows herself to grow in the process. It is almost magical to witness the explosion of energy that seems to arise straight from her heart as she describes a particular art piece, the story behind it, and the artist him/herself.

My favourite photo... i love the figures in the art on the wall, the painting darkened in the distance, and the image of Eliana looking on with intense connection. The three aspects seem to go together with immense ease.

The specific exhibit I was photographing was of Bruno García; his art is extremely powerful, passionate and profound... almost spiritual in nature.

Bruno García - the passion comes from the man, as it translates into the art.

The photography adventure began on Friday evening with a  gala event at her home, followed by a few days of private viewing, with the artist here for the entire process.

Two art lovers set to the scene of Bruno's paintings.

The experience of translating paintings into photographs was something completely new to me... and yet it captured my attention immensely. Perhaps it was the process of creating a 'connection' between one medium of expression and another that I found so fascinating. After all, this is what I love doing... creating connections and finding ways to 'bring together' things that often do not seem to naturally move together. Though both paint and photography are a form of art and expression, the distance between them is not so great... yet as I looked at the paintings, I found myself attempting to understand the essence of each piece. and then as I gazed through my lens, I tried to capture this essence in a  photograph... knowing that I could not transfer the texture, knowing that light and reflection would be mitigating factors in transforming the painted form into a photograph... knowing that really, i knew nothing about this kind of photography. And yet feeling so inspired by the process that it let me work straight from my heart.

One guest at the evening gala seeking more information on the artist.

The next day, I could not wait to look through the pictures... and found myself dancing with the images as I played with them. I am neither an expert, nor a professional when it comes to photography... and most of my pictures are as they are... raw in their expression without any photoshop. After all, they are usually photos of my children, my family, my friends, the landscape that surrounds me/us... and sometimes celebrations of friends. This was different, and I feel honoured to have been asked to take on such an adventure. Now I am eager to take even more pictures because as I looked through them I already saw how I might have framed something differently... and i guess the next step is to actually fill my home with some artwork too, not just photographs hanging on my walls... but actual pieces of art. Thanks for making an art lover out of me!!!!!

And for those of you who have been asking... a photo of me, my belly, and my good friend due just a few days after me.