Andy Rasheed: Nature Portals
June 9 - July 23, 2023
Exhibition launch Friday June 9 at 6-8pm
Guest opening speaker Sarah Feijen - CEO Guildhouse
“Nature Portals” is an engaging new exhibition of abstract macro photographs of Australian plants by Adelaide Hills-based art and commercial photographer Andy Rasheed. Fascinated by the world of plants, Andy has been shooting unexpected and evocative macro photographs for over 30 years.
"I wanted to create a body of work that journeys through fantastical scenes of intense light and colour, captured through a sensitive observation of plants. Each piece needed to have a distinct individuality and mood. I feel this is my most fully realised body of macro art photography to date.
I find great satisfaction in the pursuit of refining techniques within set boundaries so these images were created through simple parameters. I chose to shoot Australian plants in sunlight, using a macro lens at 1:1 magnification, with the aperture wide open (only a thin slither of the image is in sharp focus, this is called shallow depth of field). Each subject was just 70mm from the lens and viewing an area 35mm across. These criteria gave me a solid framework to build what I feel, is a very cohesive body of work. What was in my view finder is more or less what is on the wall. These are full frame, single exposures with only very minimal post production. I’ll pick a section of a plant, investigate it through the lens and react to what is in front of me. Then I refine how the elements and light interact until everything settles into a cohesive whole. Because there was a real sense of immediacy through the process of making these images, I feel there is an openness and accessibility, to the photographs.
Bio Andy Rasheed
Finding photography was a node point in my life for both my personal expression and career. For the last 30 years I have been making photographic art and for 25 of those years I have made my living as a freelance photographer, through my business, eyefood. I feel immensely grateful to have developed a viable creative career through harnessing many of the various aspects of my personality.
After so long as photographer I have a highly refined skillset as a craftsperson. The way I see it, for my work to qualify as art needs to transcend both technique and pretence, or I’d consider it as craft. An artwork must have a strong identity, it needs to feel exciting, unexpected, and emotive. To be good art it needs to be dynamic enough to grab hold of my full attention.
I find working within strict parameters is very creative so I keep things very simple when making this artwork. Using a macro lens in one setting, shoot Australian native plants in sunlight, to make the most personally satisfying imagery that I could. With only these elements and these tools, I have to problem solve my way to stronger and stronger images. I “may” have a tendency towards fixating on projects… I love the satisfaction of overcoming challenges and broadening my capacity. The process of making these photos was a great joy and I’d hope that intent is evident in my work.
I am physically affected by beautiful light and fascinated by the structures and intense colours of plants. I made this work through deep engagement and careful observation. I wasn’t fleshing out a planned set of ideas, I was searching and each of these photos are my little discoveries. Visiting and revisiting plants until I was able to uncover each image. Acting from the premiss, that regardless of the circumstances, there is always a strong photograph to be had, I just have to be willing to take the time to find it!
To find out more about my commercial and art photography www.eyefood.com.au
