Alan Strassman
Artist Statement:
I apply the early 20th century aesthetics of “straight photography” and “modernist photography” to capture unmanipulated images of the real world in the 21st century. I capture the monumentality of the ordinary, whether it is an abandoned building or everyday street life. The images pose questions rather than answers.
Whatever the subject, I never compromise careful attention to line, form, composition, texture and light. The finished product must be a compelling image. I compose in the camera’s viewfinder and use the computer like a traditional dark room to make adjustments of exposure, contrast and color balance in order to more closely approximate what the human eye can see.
I apply the early 20th century aesthetics of “straight photography” and “modernist photography” to capture unmanipulated images of the real world in the 21st century. I capture the monumentality of the ordinary, whether it is an abandoned building or everyday street life. The images pose questions rather than answers.
Whatever the subject, I never compromise careful attention to line, form, composition, texture and light. The finished product must be a compelling image. I compose in the camera’s viewfinder and use the computer like a traditional dark room to make adjustments of exposure, contrast and color balance in order to more closely approximate what the human eye can see.
Artist Bio:
A serious amateur for many years, photography became Alan Strassman’s second career in 2008. His work has been widely exhibited and is owned in private, corporate and museum collections. Recent exhibitions include group shows at the Attleboro Museum, Griffin Museum, Emerson Umbrella Arts Center, Danforth Museum, Cambridge Art Association, Panopticon Gallery and Connecticut Academy of Fine Art and solo exhibitions at The Harvard Graduate School of Education and The Newton (MA) Free Library. His publications include Signs of Life, an illustrated history of photography and New England Mill Towns, contemporary images from the birth place of the industrial revolution in America. (www.blurb.com )
Alan has studied art history, drawing, sculpture, ceramics and photography at Princeton, Westchester Art Workshop, School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the Maine Media Workshops. Also, a graduate of the Harvard Business School, he has been active on the Board of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (President Emeritus) and on the Board of the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (Chairman Emeritus).
A serious amateur for many years, photography became Alan Strassman’s second career in 2008. His work has been widely exhibited and is owned in private, corporate and museum collections. Recent exhibitions include group shows at the Attleboro Museum, Griffin Museum, Emerson Umbrella Arts Center, Danforth Museum, Cambridge Art Association, Panopticon Gallery and Connecticut Academy of Fine Art and solo exhibitions at The Harvard Graduate School of Education and The Newton (MA) Free Library. His publications include Signs of Life, an illustrated history of photography and New England Mill Towns, contemporary images from the birth place of the industrial revolution in America. (www.blurb.com )
Alan has studied art history, drawing, sculpture, ceramics and photography at Princeton, Westchester Art Workshop, School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the Maine Media Workshops. Also, a graduate of the Harvard Business School, he has been active on the Board of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (President Emeritus) and on the Board of the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (Chairman Emeritus).
