The Artist's Eye
By Joseph Verrastro
17 Apr 2009
The Artist's Eye
Joseph M. Verrastro
Back in my college days ,I was fortunate to have participated in a student art competition where I took home a first place award for photography and a second place award for painting, it was the first exhibition in the colleges newly created gallery, a virgin showing so to speak . Without hesitation ,I wandered down the painter's path, there was something about the nearly mythic image that surrounds the life of an artist that drew me in and continues to do so . Thirty years have since passed under that bridge, and while I have had work accepted to juried shows both nationally and internationally , had several solo shows and had blurbs of positive response printed in the local newspapers, that life of being a celebrated artist that I imagined for myself never really panned out.
During the past five years, due to some coincidental twists and turns , I have wandered back onto the path, that in retrospect I may have been destined to travel down to begin with, after all it was a photograph that won me the blue ribbon! To date I have had numerous photos published in books and magazines, and have been lucky enough to have people search me out looking to get a print they may seen in some form of print or another. In 2006 ,I had a photo chosen as a Kodak "Picture of the Day" which was flashed in Times Square , this small event served as a catalyst for my renewed interest in photography.
As I think about the path I chose, I know with a high amount of certainty that if given the chance I seriously doubt I would have done any thing different. The knowledge I have accumulated from my love of art and art history have definitely helped develop my artistic eye. The work of Jackson Pollock and the abstract expressionists, the drama of Edward Hopper, the moody Nocturnes of James McNeil Whistler and countless other artists and art movements are things I carry with me when I head out to take some photographs. Ideas presented in Oriental Art Conceptual art and the dreaded modern art are always present in my minds eye. While I can see the relationship between photography and painting, there is a distinct difference. Painting is a physical and tactile process while photography is more existential. It may be true that the percentage of people who can paint is significantly lower then the amount of people who can snap off a good picture, acquiring the skill and presence of mind to place yourself in a specific place and situation and capture a defining moment is a rare talent. To recognize the relationship between your perception, the existing reality and have the presence of mind to know when to click the shutter is a skill worth developing.
1 response
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Regenia Brabham gave props (17 Apr 2009):
Wonderful story and beautiful images!
