Phodigraphy

I’ve asked myself for a long time, what is it, exactly, that I do –  trying to focus on what it is and summarizing it in a single word. Let’s see; I’ve been a photographer for the last 25 years and I’ve been doing photo manipulation for myself and others for about 12 years. Through the last 10 years I’ve made many print designs for different fashion companies and, truly, there’s hardly anything I do professionally where I don’t combine at least some of the knowledge, practice, and techniques of all of the above.

Recently it struck me; I’m a phodigrapher, I create art using traditional  knowledge, but also using everything the digital age was kind enough to give me. I combine optics with digital work and brush strokes. If Photography means rendering with light, then Phodigraphy must be rendering with light and technology..

I  capture bits of reality and present them as I’d like to see them, not necessarily as they are. Be it a mountain, a piece of clothing, a leaf, a jewel, or a cloud. I believe my job is to make everything look better. The piece stays with the observer for a longer time because it makes them feel or think. I try to evoke emotions, shooting mostly simple things, with a special touch.

During my last show I noticed people inspecting my work closely. Some asked me, “How did you paint this?” My reply was, “Well, it’s actually a photograph.” This is why I invented the word for what I do: phodigraphs: I needed it to explain what I do.

I often hear people comparing a beautiful photograph to a painting and vice versa. Well, if that’s where I am, I’m home.