Gary Bartoloni began his photographic life around the age of 9 when his Dad allowed him to use his Kodak “Tourister “ camera. Not satisfied with the previous gifts of Brownies and Instamatics, he was fascinated by the numbers (f-stops) written around the lens..the Iris which opened and closed, and the big roll of (620) film. This type of fascination and desire would underwrite his story.
Throughout his life, whether during his years studying Biology at various colleges, or photographic art at Pratt and L.I.U., he ceaselessly tried to push the limits of the then accepted and comfortable.
While studying Botany, he was introduced to the technique of plant diagnostics through the use of infrared films and their unique ability to capture the light aura, indicative of the energies emitted by trees and all green plants through photosynthesis. He immediately saw the potential in this film’s ability not just to create an diverse rendition of the visible, but to open to us the world of the otherwise invisible…animals see infrared..we can not. It creates a new tonal range and relation which can be further expanded as the nude reflectance of heat creating a sublime aura to mimick that of the forest.
Not satisfied with bending the perception of and the interpretations within this new world, he began experimenting with older and wider lenses whose unique properties of projecting somewhat warped circles, would create a visual vortex drawing the viewer into the images.
He has had many individual showings of this work, along with participating as a member in various photo and art groups in and between New York and Florida. His work has been chosen most recently for the internationally juried exhibit,”Camera 2015” and 'Camera 2016', held at the Von Liebling Center in Naples Florida, The Sarasota Center for the Arts, The Southampton Art Center (New York), while having participated in OK Harris, Soho Photo exhibits, and presenting a portfolio for a Guggenheim Grant regarding the visual recognition of endangered world forests through infrared portrayals.
His preferred methods were large format ( 4x5 , 8x10, and 11x14) cameras and film which he contracted production solely for his use. With the upsurgence of digital capture, he is furthering his experimentation in this direction.
His writing echoes the magic he seeks in his imagery, requiring that the viewer and reader allow their inner child to hear and see again.
Gary Bartoloni joined Pixels.com Licensing on February 6th, 2015.
