Photo Asylum Lobby
Photo Asylum News Photo Asylum Bio Photo Asylum Portfolio Photo Asylum Gallery Photo Asylum Workshop Photo Asylum Padded Cell Photo Asylum Links contact Steve
I think a popular misconception about photography is its documentary nature: the idea that a camera "captures" an image or "freezes" a moment in time.

With cameras being available to virtually everyone, we as a society repeatedly photograph every aspect of daily life imaginable, convinced we have a little piece of reality in our wallet or photo album.

I consider photography interpretive by nature: the original subject being just one of many elements that influence the way a final image appears.
As a visual artist, I continually choose the level of interpretation of what I see.
Whether my work appears to be real or surreal, literal or abstract, this interpretation, however subtle, exists as a common thread guided by my ideas, emotions, and creative energy.
By using subject, light, equipment, and process, I've attempted to construct what can be thought of as a photographic language.
As with a spoken language, the challenge of photography is to continually learn new "vocabulary" that will in turn allow the range of my expression to grow.
Expression that exists, not in reality captured, but in reality created.
All original artwork © 2005 Steven Paul Hlavac. All rights reserved.