Statement of the Artist I seem to prefer working during the borderlands of day and night. In the field, most of my images deal with those things that interest me at a relatively fixed time and place. Initially this was limited to a world unspoiled by man, but increasingly my work has taken on a broader significance. During my early training, I developed my own prints. Similar to most artists my photographic education evolved by experimentation over the years. In the past, my black and white film was processed using traditional darkroom methods. Later, with advances in imaging technology, I gradually developed digital editing techniques and began using dedicated printers, with calibrated ink-sets and papers. Most of my images have a more compressed, high contrast appearance, with a strong sense of graphic design, generally presented within a soft and moody background. The resulting black and white prints tend to convey a more dramatic look and a haunting quality. As a photographer, I am concerned about how the image looks, but as an artist, I am concerned about how the image feels to me at the time. Thus, if there is no reaction, there is no image. I tend to operate largely on the basis of instinctive feelings. There is no doubt that photography is exciting in the field and a challenge in the studio. I hope you enjoy these prints. Gary W. Vann