Artist Statement
Recently, I have become very interested in Lith Printing. Lith printing is the same darkroom technique but rather than develop the print in normal black and white photographic paper developer, one uses high contrast lith film developer. Its out come is quite different from the normal black and white photographs. I have many 'Lith Photographs', and hope you find them to your liking.
I started photographing 40 years ago. I am self taught, shooting only black and white film and using manual cameras, nothing digital.
My forte is the nude although my true love is the abstract. Anything with an abstract quality to it appeals to my photographic eye. Aaron Siskind, and Minor White among others are my inspiration for the abstract.
I seem to be leaning more and more towards portraiture. I try to 'capture' the natural beauty of my subjects, showing them as they are, not as 'someone else.'
I also shoot plants and trees, coming in close to create abstract images.
I have a fondness for old cemeteries, especially the ones in Italy, and have photographed the nude in these locations. Edward Weston's nudes first inspired me, although there are many other photographers whose work I admire. Still his influence can be seen in my work.
I use both 35mm and 2 1/4 formats. Natural light has been my main light source for 40 years although recently (8 years, now) I have purchased studio lights and I am in the self teaching phase of studio work.
I frequently travel to Italy and Japan where my eye is delighted at the photo opportunities that these countries have to offer.
I continue to photograph, process my own film, and make my photos in the traditional way, in a darkroom. For some of my younger audiences, I am sure this is something new to them, a darkroom, not a room with the lights turned off either.
I hope you find some visual pleasure in these works, as I try to create artistic, beautiful images. Enjoy.
Criticism and comments are welcomed.
Joseph Vito Di Sipio (2011)
