Art Hop
June 7, 2012
5:00-8:00pm
Artists Reception
Sunday, June 24, 2012
3:00-5:00pm
Robert John Friesen continues to be amazed at the patterns and colors he experiences in the world he passes through. In his practice of the art of photography he has become more aware of the beauty and detail of his surroundings. This adds to the depth of his travel experiences. In commenting on his image of Aspens in Banff, he explained “I would never have seen the parallel lines of the tops of the Aspen trees and the slope of the mountain if I had not been working to get a representative image of the Aspens”. This happens time and time again as he takes the time to establish an image. [Aspens Banff image here]
One of the pleasures of photography is that it is not boring. There is always something new: a new vista, a new detail not seen before, a feature of Photoshop not tried before, learning a new feature on the camera. Then there are the new procedures like High Dynamic Range (HDR) process that allows an increase in dynamic range from the lightest to the darkest area of an image, creating an image closer to what our eyes can see with their ability to adjust.
The contrasts of light and shape make a good subject for an image. The Guggenheim’s stainless steel sculpture of spheres, contrast in shape with the sweeping lines of the titanium shingles of the museum. Each of these surfaces responds differently to the changing ambient light. [Guggenheim image here]
Another of Robert’s fascinations is water, whether it is splashing, falling, flowing, or reflecting. There is almost always a sparkle in the water. In addition water will bring out the intense colors of the rocks below its surface. [Water escaping mirror lake, Yosemite] Robert’s show includes gurgling streams, placid lakes, hidden bays and mighty waterfalls.
The symbiosis between travel and photography is also a pleasant aspect of Robert’s photographic career. He has visited 39 countries. He also enjoys regional trips in North America. Most recently he spent time photographing in Spain, Portugal and Morocco.
In addition to his June show, Robert also has images on display at All Things Fresno. He is also a regular participant of the Rotating Members Gallery at Spectrum and has an image in Spectrum’s Traveling Show. He has shown his work at the California Arts Academy, Park Avenue West Interiors, Kern Street Coffee Company, Echo Street Coffee and Melinda’s in Reedley. In addition to being a member of Spectrum Gallery he is also a member of the National Association of Photoshop Professional.
Robert continues to enjoy and learn from his association with Tim Grey, Steve McCurry, Rick Sampson, Dan Burkholder, Rich Seiling and Terrance Reimer. Their workshops, tutorials, articles have added to Robert’s understanding of the art of capturing images and preparing them for display.