honorable mention
Ron S. Levy united states
Photo © Ron S. Levy
title
Bridge of Dreams (from the series The 'Nature' of Bridges)
Me, I see bridges as metaphorical gateways to other realms – and I often use them as a lead-in to other parts of my predominantly light painting body of work, "Vibrant Night." To me, bridges offer a hypnotic pathway into other realms of experience. Also, I sometimes see them (and light paint and/or post-process them) as geometric abstract art: I’m pleased if the viewer isn’t even sure it’s a bridge at first. Moreover, when nestled amid nature, they symbolize something spiritual to me – the spirit of humankind as she blends elegantly with Mother Nature.
This bridge photo is a new favorite of mine. I was finishing a night of light painting this bridge when the rising sun did what I couldn’t: beamed its rays golden on all the supports at just the right angle. Breathtaking! The original shot was special, but I love exploring the transformational power of post-processing. Something that suggests a portal into a dream. After many, many hours, I got this.
[This current work (Bridge of Dreams #1a) samples from my new subseries recently published as projects on LensCulture (www.LensCulture.com/ron-levy): currently a 10 shot and an extended 20 shot version. Although the shot is a bit atypical for me, since I’m mainly a light painting photographer, it has become the coverpage for the projects (displacing a bridge shot that won 2nd place in this same subcategory in the 2018 ND Awards.) Those projects, called “The Dreams of a Bridge” visualize a surreal nocturnal fantasy as the spirit of a bridge dreams of fleeing the city to make friends in faraway places. And, in the end, returns home, renewed.]
His main light painting body-of-work since 2013, "Vibrant Night: Light Painting Landscapes" typically explores nature areas in Texas (mainly) at night and its “border” zones. He uses long exposures, lights of different color temperatures, and extensive post-processing to convey what was in his mind’s eye. Conceptually, the work embraces the value of “cognitive reframing” (ie., seeing things “in a different light.”) Major subseries include “Pareidolic Beings in Nature,” "What Have You Done to the Earth," “Gravel Pits and Such,” “Ponds of Stone,” plus limited studies, and an adjunct series, “The Nature of Bridges.” Samples from some of these might be seen here. Full series, variations, and artist statements can be found on his portfolio site, www.LensCulture.com/ron-levy.
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entry description
There’s something about bridges that touches our souls.Me, I see bridges as metaphorical gateways to other realms – and I often use them as a lead-in to other parts of my predominantly light painting body of work, "Vibrant Night." To me, bridges offer a hypnotic pathway into other realms of experience. Also, I sometimes see them (and light paint and/or post-process them) as geometric abstract art: I’m pleased if the viewer isn’t even sure it’s a bridge at first. Moreover, when nestled amid nature, they symbolize something spiritual to me – the spirit of humankind as she blends elegantly with Mother Nature.
This bridge photo is a new favorite of mine. I was finishing a night of light painting this bridge when the rising sun did what I couldn’t: beamed its rays golden on all the supports at just the right angle. Breathtaking! The original shot was special, but I love exploring the transformational power of post-processing. Something that suggests a portal into a dream. After many, many hours, I got this.
[This current work (Bridge of Dreams #1a) samples from my new subseries recently published as projects on LensCulture (www.LensCulture.com/ron-levy): currently a 10 shot and an extended 20 shot version. Although the shot is a bit atypical for me, since I’m mainly a light painting photographer, it has become the coverpage for the projects (displacing a bridge shot that won 2nd place in this same subcategory in the 2018 ND Awards.) Those projects, called “The Dreams of a Bridge” visualize a surreal nocturnal fantasy as the spirit of a bridge dreams of fleeing the city to make friends in faraway places. And, in the end, returns home, renewed.]
about the photographer
Ron S. Levy is a fine art landscape photographer, residing in Houston, Texas, who currently specializes in night photography using "light painting." A graduate of Amherst College with a B.A. and University of Rochester with a Ph.D., Ron has studied photography on his own to this day.His main light painting body-of-work since 2013, "Vibrant Night: Light Painting Landscapes" typically explores nature areas in Texas (mainly) at night and its “border” zones. He uses long exposures, lights of different color temperatures, and extensive post-processing to convey what was in his mind’s eye. Conceptually, the work embraces the value of “cognitive reframing” (ie., seeing things “in a different light.”) Major subseries include “Pareidolic Beings in Nature,” "What Have You Done to the Earth," “Gravel Pits and Such,” “Ponds of Stone,” plus limited studies, and an adjunct series, “The Nature of Bridges.” Samples from some of these might be seen here. Full series, variations, and artist statements can be found on his portfolio site, www.LensCulture.com/ron-levy.
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