I
have always looked at my world as an artist, focusing each scene "through the lens" of an imaginary camera.
It wasn't until 2000, when I purchased my first digital camera, that I even considered the "fine art" aspect of my photographs.
Then, one stormy morning in April, I shot a picture of an unusually turbulent sky and when I viewed it on my computer,
I was totally blown away. That picture known as "Angry Sky" became my first venture into the "commercial" side of my art and led me
on a path of award winning entries in juried photography shows & exhibits in Alabama over the past 9 years.
I photograph scenes that are details of a broader picture - an architectural element of an old crumbling building,
the symmetry of a pier from below and the shadows of a beach fence caught in the afternoon light.
From the whimsical bicycle melting into the sidewalk to the ghostly image of a brooding sky over confederate gravestones,
I am drawn to those unique shots of ordinary places, many of which surround us but often are not "seen" by others.
I often choose to shoot in black & white and reserve the option to return to color later.
But many times the interplay of shadows, the contrast of light and dark, the tones of grey are the things that make the scene -
these are the qualities that "tell the story" in my images. Living on a farm in rural Ashland, Alabama has also given me an appreciation of the beauty
and simplicity of a world far removed from the urban scene - a quality I try to capture in each of my photographs.
Technique
I use Canon equipment exclusively and have recently upgraded to the new 15.1 megapixel 50D digital SLR camera.
I typically capture my images in "raw" format, often in black and white. My workflow begins with Canon's Digital Photo Professional software and then proceeds to Adobe Photoshop
for final processing and subsequent printing using Epson's 2200 large format archival printer. Many of my images are printed with no computer manipulation, however, depending on the subject,
I sometimes add an emulsion edge effect in Photoshop to give the photograph that faded decayed look. I prefer to print my images in my home studio so I have complete control over the finished
product, however I do use professional services for photographs that require larger sizes. I use high quality archival papers and inks rated to resist fading for over 100 years when properly
displayed under glass. My work has many themes and includes a wide variety of subjects from rural backwoods scenes, forgotten cemeteries, breathtaking skies and sunsets to contemporary flower details.
Contact
Info:
Jennifer Alam
Jennifer's Design Studio
PO Box 902
Ashland, AL 36251
