Jerry Stogsdill

Photography, to me, has always been, first and foremost, fun!  It has been, primarily, a personal endeavor: a creative therapy that has provided me with an intellectual, psychological and artistic means of expression.  Recently, this process has evolved to a point where I enjoy sharing with others the images I find interesting.

I enjoy the creative process of getting out into the world and looking at things through a photographers “eye”.  I have never had any desire to work in a studio as I appreciate images that are more spontaneous rather than purposely designed and created.  I was a history major in college and I enjoy photographing subjects that have some history behind them, some wear and tear and maybe some mystery.

I am interested in a wide range of subjects but I find a real fascination in photographing subjects or locations that many people would not normally consider beautiful or interesting.  I love abandoned buildings, alleys, storefronts and other locations that would normally not draw much attention.  I find these can have a beauty, a sense of history and a sense of mystery that can be very intriguing.  I love the worn geometry of old buildings and the abstract imagery that  can transcend the purpose and design of the original architecture.

I like taking pictures on foggy days more than sunny days.  I was a Naval Officer and I am still fascinated by the raw power and stunning beauty of the sea.  In photographing seascapes, harbor scenes and coastal areas I try to convey the sense of beauty and calm, pending adventure and ever changing levels of energy always present in these locations.

I do not have a lot of interest in portrait photography or even having people in my photographs.  I would like to have my viewers look at my photos and wonder how people were involved in the creation of the subject matter without the people actually being in the photo.  I want my viewers to wonder about the people who created a building, used it and then let it fall apart.  I want them to wonder about the unseen people on a sailboat, what brought them to that location, where they came from and where they are going.  I want them to wonder about who might be in that alley, are they friendly or do they pose a danger.  I think a good photo should stimulate the imagination of the viewer to create an image in their mind that is more interesting, powerful, beautiful or foreboding than the actual image.

A good photo, to me, is a starting point not a final destination.  A good photo will engage a viewer on a number of levels.  I want the viewer to enjoy the “art” of the image, the colors, the composition, the play of light and other attributes that make a memorable photo, painting, assemblage or sculpture.  I also want the viewer to be drawn into the depth of the picture and to seek out the details that will add to the back story of the photo.  Most importantly, I hope the image will be a “story starter” for the viewer.  To me, a good photo will hold the viewer past the normal appreciation time it takes to enjoy a “pretty picture”.  I hope to engage the viewer’s imagination to create their own story line about the picture, the people in the picture or NOT in the picture and how this captured moment in time came to be and how it will evolve in the future.  A picture that piques the viewers’ imagination and causes them to create a personal history of the picture or a personal future for the picture is, to me, a very successful image.