Artist Statement
Jim Flory
Assistant Professor of Photography
Professional Photographer
Chair/Art Department
To become a good photographer you must learn to see. This is a non-technical aspect of photogrraphy that must be practiced all of the time. You not only see the physical things, but also the things from within. This is how photography can teach you to make meaningful images and to become in tune with yourself and the world around you. Photographer's 'bear their souls' when they show their images. Be positive about revealing yourself. Show us how you feel about your subjects.
"Feeling" the subject is just as important as seeing the subject. Here in lies the therapeutic value of Photography. Forgetting about everything except what's in front of the camera helps you focus your creativity. When you begin to feel good about your photography you'll begin to feel good about yourself. This all requires time and patience. Take the time to go out and shoot and be patient with the results. The more you shoot the better you'll get...the better you get the better you'll feel. It's that simple.
I love to shoot color and black and white equally well. As a former biologist I am drawn to the natural world. I love being outside in nature. Because my favorite subjects, landscapes and close-ups are in nature, I have adapted them to both mediums I like to shoot with. I prefer to shoot landscapes with black and white film but sometimes color is the choice depending on the time of day and the activity I'm engaged in at the time. When I shoot black and white I prefer to use larger negative cameras. For close-up subjects I prefer to use 35mm only. I enjoy shooting film and digital. Both bring different qualities to the photographic table technically and ascetically.
I like my students to learn with film first so they see the big photographic picture. They gain a sense of historical perspective. I like them to be proficient with both color and black and white before they start to work with digital. Patience is very important in photography and I find that students who learn on digital equipment first are not anywhere near as patient as those who learn on film. Most photography students are not patient to begin with so learning this virtue helps them along the way.
The darkroom for me has always been a sanctuary. It is a place to close the door and become focused on the craft of photography. Darkroom work produces wonderful creative energy. There are no distractions here, just quiet concentration. In photographic terms it produces an excitement, a magical experience all of its own. Working with "silver" has no rival. The reason that traditional black and white will live on is because the photographer controls the whole process. From the seeing, to the shooting, to the processing and printing, the photographer has total control of the image.
I have spent my life shooting photographs and teaching others how to truly enjoy this art form. Many of my former students who work with photography have corresponded over the years and I am fond of them all. I appreciate that they have included me in their lives beyond their formal education. For me, this is what teaching is all about.