I have been drawing, painting and photographing things my entire life. Always a skilled illustrator, in college I studied with Herb Jackson who introduced me to action painting and abstract imagery. That exposure was instrumental in changing my thinking about imagery from the purely literal to a more conceptual approach. His influence has informed my artistic vision ever since.
As life moved forward I switched my artistic endeavors almost entirely to photography. I have been working as a professional photographer for nearly twenty years and along with my commercial wedding work, I have embarked on numerous personal projects that explore both ends of the photographic spectrum; cutting edge digital and vintage film. As much as I like the flexibility and capabilities of my high-end digital cameras, I have been more inspired in the last several years to look back and employ some of my old techniques and skills with film and film cameras. To this end I have been inspired to embark on several projects on the low-fidelity and film end of the spectrum using different types of film cameras including 120 medium formats, 4×5 view cameras, holgas and Polaroids.
These projects are based around a general theme of photographing and exploring the emerging and decaying aspects of the rural South. My current project is a Polaroid exploration with a vintage 340 Land camera that I recently refurbished and converted to use “AAA” batteries. I also make annual trips to Clarksdale, MS for a photographer’s retreat focusing on documenting the Mississippi delta and developing a deeper artistic vision. I also often stop along the roadways between Maryland and South Carolina my stomping grounds, to grab interesting shots. As well as trips as often as I can make it to New Orleans to photograph the musicians and the buskers who live and work there.
Links:
Website: http://sweetlifestudios.com/fineart
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sweetlifephoto
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/frankmyersjr
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Sweetlifestudios
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