Featured Artist Kelly Fitzgerald

This week we are featuring member  Kelly Fitzgerald , an American born artist best known for her black and white film landscapes. 
Her selection here is from her recent work, "Colorado" from Infra-red film.

"...Photographing Colorado has been a dream of mine for over 25 years.  The first time I was inspired was when I looked through a black and white landscape photography book that had been given to me as a gift.  I saw these gorgeous landscapes of nature that had been taken by the photographer Ansel Adams.  From that moment, I knew that I wanted to experience Colorado first hand and explore its scenic beauty and history.

Dreams do come true.  With 3 camera bodies in tow, along with the very last of the discontinued Kodak Infrared High-Speed Film, I got to travel to Colorado this past September of 2010.

Fitzgerald strives to create works that capture and preserve the beauty in nature and in vanishing places – images that will inform the viewer and convey her deep belief in the value of these amazing places.

Fitzgerald discovered her love for art and photography at an early age.  In 1985, while living on the island of Kauai, she decided to move to San Diego, California to pursue her passion of the arts.  She enrolled in the photography/art program at San Diego City College.  She also studied oil painting and charcoal drawing at the San Diego Art Plex.

Fitzgerald is a black and white landscape specialist using tools such as manual film cameras, black-and-white film and the traditional darkroom to create her silver gelatin fiber base and Type C prints.  

Her photographs have been in numerous exhibits throughout the United States and Europe.  Fitzgerald's work has also won several awards including The Golden Light Award and the IPA Lucie Award.  She was honored at The Hubbard Museum in Association with The Smithsonian Institution in 2003, and was the first photographer to receive the Gene Harrison Memorial Award in November of 2003.

July of 2009, she wrapped up a 5 year project called "A New Discovery" ~ Black & White Infrared Film Landscapes of the Hawaiian Islands.  This past year, she was chosen to be a part of the Calumet Ansel Adams Tribute Video.  Her image "Shipwreck Beach - III, Lanai" was featured in the video.

More of her collections can be seen here