God introduced light into the world in Genesis 1:2. Without light there is only darkness. In photography, we use light to impact on substance in the formation of an image. To my mind and to my eye, therefore, light is highly spiritual and its application in the creation of form is a spiritual metaphor of the highest order. He created the universe and segmented time to our capacity of being. He ordained the seasons and decorated them with oscillating beauty, each with ownership singular to itself. As we passively participate in this panorama of our constantly changing environment, we occasionally expose our film and our finiteness in a futile attempt to possess the moment. But moments like these cannot be captured or possessed for they belong to the Eternal One from Whom they came and to Whom they do return. Our photographic endeavors serve more the purpose of reminding us of that brief moment in time when we actually met the Artist.
Artistic expression in photography is a paradigm. Initially, there must be some advanced knowledge of the science and chemistry of photography, as well as, of sensitized paper products in order to execute and produce the desired images. Additionally, the element of form, design, light, shadows, and substance must be creatively merged with the science of photographic images. Most importantly, however, there is the compelling necessity to manipulate all of the above placing it firmly on the foundation of thought and imaginative creativity so that the intrinsic energy that drives us all to our respective craft might be successfully accomplished.
I was first exposed to the concept of previsualization by Ansel Adams at his workshop in 1980. Just as an artist creates and manipulates his painting as to its composition, color, density, design, and the expression of the image, so Adams proposed his own system whereby the photographer could do the same by exposure and processing of the negative and print. Further refinement in the creation of a fine print was received at a workshop given by John Sexton who served as Ansel Adams assistant for 5 years before Adams' death in 1983.
This exhibit is presented as an accumulation of images made over 50 years of a serious love affair with photographic expression. Although prints are signed by the one who made and processed the images, their selection shown here was reviewed and approved by my most sincere and uncompromising critic, my loving wife, Margaret. Because of her critical eye for technical perfection and subject appeal, we can present this collection of images hopefully reflecting our sensitivity to a world where beauty and form respond to light and shadows.
Photographic expression is enmeshed in a lifetime of common and not-so-common experiences whereby we engage in a continuum of life and its experiences. My personal journey has been constructed on a solid foundation of Christian belief and commitment. Christ stated in Matthew 6:33 that we were to "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness". So in photographic expression I have been attracted most by those elements in life and environment that convey beauty and truth as seen in the world created around us. Hopefully the images presented in this website may partially reflect this commitment.
N. B. Baroody, MD
