Featured Artist

Seann Cram

Seann Cram is a photographer. He typically uses Canon EOS digital cameras, or black and white 35mm film in a few old analog cameras. He shoots his surroundings, which tend to change often. All of his digital work is straight from the camera with no editing or Photoshop. 

Modern Art, 8x10 digital photograph, 2006, Seann Cram

What attracts you to photography as a medium?
It is kind of an odd question for me, what attracts me to the medium of photography, ever since I have known what a camera is I have wanted to take pictures with it. I received my first camera a Minolta 7xi (35mm SLR) during an exchange trip to Japan when I was fourteen years old, which is where I mark the beginning of my artistic photography pursuits. I create photographs because I am drawn to the idea of documentation, that a moment can be captured as it occurs. It’s like stopping time.

On The Lake, 8x10 digital photography, 2007, Seann Cram

Are there particular photographers who inspire your work?
I grew up with a mother who admires art and Ansel Adams was always an influence on her. Because of that there were always photography books from various photographers, which she collected, strewn about the house. I am not able to remember specific photographer’s names very well, but a lot of the natural and landscape photography in those books really inspired me. I was also exposed to a lot of National Geographic magazines as a child. Those images had a profound impact on how I look at the world. They made me want to be there and see the world as those photographers did. To document the nature around me and to understand the ecosystem and human experience through photography.

Night’s Pond, 8x10 digital photograph, 2009, Seann Cramm

What themes or styles do you hope to explore through future work?

Well right now I am exploring time-lapse photography, where I end up making short movies showing the night sky or the making of a good stew for example. An ongoing project that I begin whenever I move to a new area is creating a series of images that defines the communities I live in. I am moving to the West coast within the next year or so, which will take this project to the next level, as I live on the east coast right now. Being able to use my own images to juxtapose East Coast communities with West Coast communities is my next endeavor. 

Vermont Life, 8x10 digital photograph, 2007, Seann Cramm

Many thanks to Seann for sharing his work.

What do you think of these photographs of Seann's dynamic surroundings?

Featured Artist

Walter Helena Photography

Walter Helena Photography is a Vancouver, British Columbia based company. At the helm of WHP is Nadine, who has utmost respect for fine art images that are reproduced at the highest of quality.  WHP creates themed collections -- each of which are produced in limited edition quantities of 25.

More about Nadine, in her own words.

I travel often and I always carry my camera with me (a Canon EOS 50D, which I adore). A very heavy necklace.



Through my printing styles, the photographs become pieces of art; thick paper, texture beneath the ink, intensely saturated colours, ragged white edges. They are beautiful. And I’m not just saying that because I love each one individually (and I do).



I take immense pride in the reproduction of my images. Each individual WHP image is part of a themed collection and is available in a variety of sizes from 5 x 5 inches to 40 x 40 inches. 


Many thanks to Nadine for sharing her dream-like photographs!


What do you think of these ethereal images? 

Featured Artist

Josefina Bolano
Josefina Bolano was born in Colombia 24 years ago.  She is currently a Barranquilla, Colombia based fine art photographer, graphic designer, and Christian.  Josefina initially began taking photographs while studying Fashion Design from 2005-2008.  After moving to Venezuela, she studied graphic design for two years, though much of her graphic design knowledge is self-taught.  From 2008-2010 Josefina became more involved with photography and decided to study photography at NYIP (New York Institute of Photography).  She has done graphic design work for musicians in Colombia and Venezuela, as well as local newspapers, and advertising.  Her photographs can be found in private collections.

Does your work in graphic design inform your practice of photography?
Yes, definitely, yes. It flows naturally.  I do not sketch a design before taking the photographs.  I take the photographs first, then I just start creating, sometimes I spend hours looking for pictures I took 3 or 4 years ago, and all of the sudden, an idea pops in my head,  That’s why I never delete a photo.  The photograph you see today as worthless may be worthwhile some day.


What are your favorite places to take photographs in South Florida?
For me every single place or scene is great.  Each has its own beauty, you just have to find it, and observe carefully.  But, I have to say that I love birds, powerlines and clouds,  When I think of walk to take photographs, I'm drawn to the beach or downtown.

What types of photography and/or graphic design projects do you hope to undertake in the future?
Well I have a lot of ideas, tons of ideas actually.  With Photography, I want to do fashion, weddings, portraits, and of course continue with fine art photography, because it’s my personal view--what I own.  I think that every photo I take has a little bit of me, of my personality.
With Graphic Design, I’ve always wanted to have my own studio and work on my own. I love Editorial, Travel and Advertising. Also, one of my dreams is to work for a magazine.


Thank you very much to Josefina for her work and her thoughts on photography and graphic.


What do you think of Josefina artful photographs and designs?

Featured Artist

Christina Brosnan
    Please welcome Christina Brosnan, this week's featured artist.  I came to know of Christina's work because she was the photographer for the wedding of my friends Jaime and Tom, in Adare Ireland.  When I saw the photographs that Christina had taken of the Adare wedding I was totally floored by beauty of her photographs, so much so that I decided to make a painting based on one of her photographs.  I was also surprised to find that Ms. Brosnan is originally from Chicago, my current home! 
    Christina Brosnan has been studying and practicing photography for 10 years.  She attended College of DuPage in Chicago and after graduating went on to study at Speos Photographic Institute in Paris.  She runs Brosnan Photographic, in Ireland, with her husband, Colin.  Christina loves photography and documenting people.

What is the most or some of the most interesting locations in which you've taken wedding photographs?
For me I find pleasure in photographing in new locations. The best locations I've worked in were Thailand and London. I was fortunate enough to photograph a friends wedding in Bangkok. The Thai traditions are so different from western traditions. I also recently photographed an engagement session in London. I love photographing in big cities. There is so much around you that makes for a great backdrop, such as a busy street with lots of people or a simple doorway. There is usually a lot more colour to be found in a city rather than a forest or park. But they can work equally as well especially in Autumn when the leaves are changing colours or during sunset with the warm glow.

Do you find yourself to be partial to photographs produced in a certain type of daylight (morning light, bright sunshine, overcast light, dusk light, etc)?
I've never been particular about the time of day I photograph. I think you can always capture a great photo whether it's sunny, cloudy, sunset or sunrise. If you always photograph at the same time of day in the same light conditions your photos will always look the same and every couple wants something a little different from the next so it's good to be able to photograph in any light condition. Having said that I generally try and avoid shooting midday in the sun. You can get some terrible shadows with the sun at it's highest.

I think one of the most striking things about your portrait photography is that you photograph people on location and not in a studio.  What do you find most interesting about photographing people in a location of their choosing?
It's the same as painting a picture. You don't paint a portrait of someone on a white background, you paint them in their environment. Putting people against a plain background seems stagnant. You can really create a masterpiece with shooting on location. You don't need to bring in props, everything around you is a prop. I really like to capture people being natural and there's nothing natural about putting them in front of a white background.

I really appreciate Christina sharing her work with us!  Be sure to check out the Brosnan Photographic website to see more of her photographs. 

What do you think of Christina's lovely photographs? 

Other Projects

Photographing My Paintings
I've never taken much of an interest in photography or received any formal training on the subject.  Sure, I can travel the Grecian Islands, take several hundred photos, and get a few really great images.  There isn't really much challenge in taking great photos if the scenery is stunning.  It is more challenging, for me, to take photographs which effectively convey information about my painted work.

Several weeks ago, I spent a full afternoon taking photographs of paintings in order to post them in my Etsy store.  This was only my second attempt at photographing paintings, though a good bit more successful than the first.  I experimented with photographing the paintings in different types of natural light, including hanging outside on the front porch.

It was certainly challenging to get the light just right, in order to see the painting without glare or reflections.  I achieved some fairly successful results.  My favorite part of the whole ordeal, by far, was photographing the paintings with props.  

The experience reminded me a bit of the work of this week's featured artist Sabina Nieto.  Sabina tends to create "occupiable spaces" in her collages.  She wrote, "...Otherwise ambiguous destinations for the wandering eye are provided windows, walls, vanishing points, or horizons to register where you are..."  Similarly in photographing my paintings, I'm drawn to the idea of creating imagined environments, in which the painting seem to fit much more naturally than they do when they exist solely as well lit objects, in a sterile environment.  The addition of domestic do-dads and bobbles seem to, in Sabina's words, "[make] these spaces richer by becoming more specific.—equipped with hiding places, beach blankets, a make-shift armchair . . . one could ask, 'May I make myself at home?'"     

What are some of your favorite props for photos: mustaches, sunglasses for your dog, vintage items?