The Photographic Works of Jerry Daniel.  September 2009 

The National Forest Art Gallery is delighted to welcome photographic artist Jerry Daniel to exhibit this month.It is probably, more accurate to describe his works as photographic art as opposed to mere 'photography' as each piece displays his artistic talent and ability to present the nature that surrounds us, within a unique frame.He astutely comments that "photography has little to do with what we see and everything to do with the way we see it." This becomes very apparent when viewing his works alongside each other - one is aware of how a landscape or tree might appear to the naked eye, whilst out walking, for example - but if one takes the time to stop, and look at the same subject in a different way, the inherent beauty of the natural or man made subjects suddenly appear - as if by magic, courtesy of Jerry's camera lens.Jerry adds "My early retirement from teaching because of deafness has enabled me to spend more time on my photography. My images are mostly minor landscape features rather than records of recognizable places. They have minimal manipulation to enhance traditional pictorial values.We interpret landscape images by imposing cultural values on them. So landscapes become culture before they are nature, constructs of the imagination projected onto wood, water and rock. My pictures reflect my art school background with considered compositions and elements of perceptual ambiguity, also an awareness of the historical tradition of photographic art, an interest in romantic art and my character:- miserable old deaf git."Whilst self deprecating of his own character (which in reality, is the complete opposite!), Jerry's works are anything but miserable but everything that is inspiring about romantic art and photographic art.

 

Cordelia Mellor-Whiting.  Curator, National Forest Gallery