I am a fine arts photographer out of Richmond, Virginia working in traditional nature, night, monochrome photography, and photo manipulation work. The portfolios showcase natural beauty by daylight, artificial light by night, and generally striking imagery with monochrome work, whereas the photo manipulations are experimental in nature. In any instance, everything captured is shown in its best and most vivid light possible. My photography typically has a Gothic or otherworldly feel to it as a result of this.
In addition to being a photographer, I have recently begun experimenting with various forms of abstract expression- most notably using fractal art, but I've also begun working with alcohol ink, and with digital painting programs as well. I do my best to make use of photographic and painting software together with traditional painting where that applies; the work visible here has been digitally enhanced and retouched significantly from the originals.
Returning to my photographic work, my nature photography uses natural lighting entirely. I seek to display nature in all its beauty, and to remain as accurate as possible while letting enhanced elements jump out at the viewer to create interesting imagery.
With my night photography, the work displays the effects created by artificial light at night, typically in urban environments, or of such viewed from a distance. As the artificial and unnatural take on a surreal energy after dark, whatever ambient light there is creates scenes that take advantage of those atmospheres.
In my monochrome work what is seen is mostly starker imagery; subject matter varies more in black and white, as I explore subject matter I don't usually showcase. The sharp rawness of the work is what matters to me when I work in black and white.
The photo manipulations show my style displayed in a more uninhibited fashion, as concern for accuracy is dropped in exchange for greater freedom of expression and intensity. I often tamper with lighting and color to achieve a variety of evocative images and effects.
As pertains to my abstract work, I usually seek to explore visually striking imagery with vivid coloration when it comes to my fractal and alcohol ink work. To date my digital paintings have been experiments in automatic drawing and painting, in which I work in a sort of artist's trance generating the end results by means of non-normal consciousness; they are not exactly planned out, in other words.
I find my subject matter through serendipity and exploration as I drift around or explore interactions of color. Overall, my efforts are geared towards creating works which highlight my subject matter in a manner that make them somewhat out of this world yet nonetheless true to life as I wander with my camera or tinker with paint and digital paint.
-Adam Shurte