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Artist
Statement This photograph was taken on Thanksgiving Day in New York City's Central Park. This particular autumn morning included clear blue skies, vivid foliage and an arched bridge with families and lovers huddling close to stay warm. Any combination of these elements would afford a photgraphic opportunity for conventional composition with striking results. However, I prefer to celebrate the individual elements that I see and the simplicity and beauty of everyday things. The texture of the stone, a breath in the cold or the simple shadows made by puffy down jackets; each offer an opportunity for keen observation, up close, where the beauty of their detail is often overlooked. Here, I thought the water was the most compelling presence, reflecting all these observations along with the Essex House behind the trees, which provided some lighter tones in the ripples. I recall waiting several minutes for a mallard to break off from the group, and I feel that the image was strengthened as a result of this greater simplicity. Oddly, it was my economics professor who said, "Photography is the art of subtraction." Although I recall little else from his lectures, I have found that life in general, and indeed photography in particular, is much more interesting up close and personal. I found this to be true as a child, who was given his first Kodak Brownie at the age of eight and as an adult, who is drawn to more intimate settings and simple subjects. After a brief career in a Wall Street cubicle, I decided to liquidate a small IRA to buy a used Blazer and explore the United States with little more than a camera, some camping equipment and my dog Brannighan. This is when I discovered Charlottesville, and moved here, without a job and without knowing a soul. This was nearly twenty years ago. Previously, I worked as an apprentice for a prominent commercial photographer, but I found photgraphing potato chips and toothpaste lacking in adventure or artistry. Today I no longer shoot professionally, but I will always marvel at the quiet beauty that surrounds us all. Paul Goossens |
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