When
looking at Emese’s work, we are
reminded that there exists among us a
parallel universe where art lies camouflaged within the ordinary, day-to-day touch-points of our lives. Finding these hidden treasures takes the filter of a creative eye. And when aided by a digital camera, a skilled photographer can reveal them for us all — not simply as images, but as true art.
reminded that there exists among us a
parallel universe where art lies camouflaged within the ordinary, day-to-day touch-points of our lives. Finding these hidden treasures takes the filter of a creative eye. And when aided by a digital camera, a skilled photographer can reveal them for us all — not simply as images, but as true art.
The
Colors of San Diego is a magical journey, guided by the creative eye of Emese
Gaal. In this extraordinary gallery of art, we see beyond the doorways, window
frames, and façades of ordinary homes and businesses. Instead, Emese
reveals for us the Mondrians, the Kandinskys, the Jasper Johns, that reside
beneath the surface. To understand the artist behind the art, Yasse recently
conducted an online interview with Emese, which we share with you beginning
here.
Yasse: Do
you remember your first experience with a camera and the first picture that
you took? If so, what was the subject of the photograph and why did you
take it?
Emese: Unfortunately, I don't remember my first experience with a camera. To refresh my memory, I looked through a series of baby pictures and while there are lots of photos of me chewing on phone cords, my crib, my thumb, assorted toys, alas, I found none of me chewing on a camera. The first camera I remember using was my dad's old Praktica, followed by a Minolta x700, which sustained me through high school and college. However, I can't say I've always wanted to be a photographer. Perhaps that's why I can't remember my first photo. For many years, photography was simply about seeing the world and then having a record that I could look back on to remind me that I have done so. It's only recently that other people have also started taking notice of my photography, and I'm not quite sure what to do with this newfound attention yet.
Yasse: Do you go out intentionally looking for photo opportunities, or do you just react to them when they are presented to you? Describe the feeling you get when you recognize a good shot.
Emese: Sometimes I will go out of my way to photograph an event or scene. I will get up before dawn to photograph a sunrise at the beach, stay up late to get some night shots of the city, and
spend hours photographing strangers in a park. I've even been known to drive hundreds of miles to do nothing more than take pictures of flowers. But I don't do studio work or posed photographs. Once I'm out there, I just react to what I see or wait for a scene to come together just right. After seeing a photograph come to life before my lens, I inevitably feel the urge to run through the streets shouting "It's alive! It's alive!" continue reading >
Emese: Unfortunately, I don't remember my first experience with a camera. To refresh my memory, I looked through a series of baby pictures and while there are lots of photos of me chewing on phone cords, my crib, my thumb, assorted toys, alas, I found none of me chewing on a camera. The first camera I remember using was my dad's old Praktica, followed by a Minolta x700, which sustained me through high school and college. However, I can't say I've always wanted to be a photographer. Perhaps that's why I can't remember my first photo. For many years, photography was simply about seeing the world and then having a record that I could look back on to remind me that I have done so. It's only recently that other people have also started taking notice of my photography, and I'm not quite sure what to do with this newfound attention yet.
Yasse: Do you go out intentionally looking for photo opportunities, or do you just react to them when they are presented to you? Describe the feeling you get when you recognize a good shot.
Emese: Sometimes I will go out of my way to photograph an event or scene. I will get up before dawn to photograph a sunrise at the beach, stay up late to get some night shots of the city, and
spend hours photographing strangers in a park. I've even been known to drive hundreds of miles to do nothing more than take pictures of flowers. But I don't do studio work or posed photographs. Once I'm out there, I just react to what I see or wait for a scene to come together just right. After seeing a photograph come to life before my lens, I inevitably feel the urge to run through the streets shouting "It's alive! It's alive!" continue reading >
