I started photographing seriously over 25 years ago, at first with a 35 mm camera, photographing in color and printing in a bathroom darkroom. Then I saw an Ansel Adams black and white landscape, and for the next 20 years tried to forge my own vision of the perfect landscape, also in black and white. I went up the ladder in camera format…from 35 mm to 21/4 to 6x7 cm and finally to the 4x5 inch view camera. At first I had scorned black and white photography as needlessly lacking the colors of nature. Then I embraced the drama and subtleties of black and white silver imaging, and the difficulties in making a truly beautiful and meaningful image.

I have come full circle now in seeing the beauty of both black and white as well as color images to evoke emotions and interest in the viewer. And I have also come to know that “reality” is not the only way to express my feelings about nature in print. From this was born the images I call ‘Flora-scapes” or “florascapes” without the hyphen – but then I think of fluoroscope, which Webster’s dictionary defines as: “an instrument used for observing the internal structure of an opaque object (as the living body) by means of X rays”. I thought of the name “florascape” from the terms “flora” from flower, and “scapes” from landscapes, which is how I see these images. (Very strange landscapes.)

The images begin as pictures of flowers which are then digitally modified. They are finished as I would a black and white landscape image, with the image composition and subject textures of primary importance. I see them having a foreground for the viewer to anchor to, the flower petals as the main subject and a background (created from the flower’s leaves) to complete the scene. The shapes and colors are striking, but I still try to create a scene from the elements in the image. Maybe the viewer will see them entirely differently than I. I believe that is one of the strengths of this type of imagery, that the viewer can find a unique interpretation that he/she can enjoy.

I have had several one-man shows of my black and white landscape photography, in fine art galleries in the Orange County and Los Angeles areas, and I have also been part of several group shows as well. These images are now being exhibited at the ArtiSan Juan Gallery at 31711 Los Rios Street in the historic "Los Rios" district of San Juan Capistrano, California. The Florascape images have been shown at a one-man show at Cypress College and at a group show at the Fine Art Center in La Habra, both shows in Southern California.

My images are an extension of my desire to communicate to others the beauty I see in the natural world, and my love for nature. I would like others to have the same sense of excitement when they see my images.

One more comment on the image materials I use for these Florascapes. I have long wondered where digital imaging would/could fit in to the "art world" and not look like a "Madison Avenue" advertisement or just a copy of some other art form. I sincerely hope that these images are one effort that is successful in using digital techniques to create a truly unique and worthwhile result.

I print the images on an Epson 4000 inkjet printer using their archival ultrachrome inks on an archival Textured Fine Art paper. These images should last longer than conventional color photographs. The colors are stunning and the prints have no noticeable grain.

Roger Bennett

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