First Light, Second Sight
Photgraphs by Irving J. Spitzberg Jr.
On display at Beanetics Coffee Roasters (7028 Columbia Pike) through October 3, 2011.
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It is hard to believe that this is Irving Spitzbeg's first exhibit. The qulaity of his work is exquisite and we are all so glad he has finally decided to share his talents with the world! Stop by, check it out, and leave us a comment. We'd love to hear what you think!
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Artist Statement
This show reflects my interest in light. Usually, my eye is caught by something about the light in a scene. I just have to capture it. You can see this interest in light in my sky photos, my landscape scenes, and my flowers. The light emitted by or shining on a subject gets my attention. So "First Light."
Then I quickly take many photos, focusing on the special challenge of creating the most artistic composition in the moment. The digital revolution is what has made the next essential step - artistic fine tuning - possible for me, the amateur. At last I can manipulate the natural subject; I can crop it and change the exposure to focus the observers' attention. So "second sight."
Much to my surprise — and that of others — my photos do capture (and, on rare occasions, create) beauty to share with everyone. This is very pleasing and rewarding for me.
About the Artist
I started taking pictures not to create art but to create a visual historical record of my life. Since young adulthood I have wanted to illustrate visually my life story, both personal and professional, as it has intersected with the wonderful people who have helped create it. For much of the decade 1962-72, I traveled abroad as part of my academic life: Europe, Israel, Nigeria, Kenya. Then when I had kids, I became enthusiastic (from their perspective, overly enthusiastic) about chronicling their lives. Every activity prompted many photos. Throughout my professional life as a university professor, dean, higher education association executive, lawyer, civic activist, and business owner, I have taken photographs to chronicle events.
It has only been since Virginia and I married that I actually became committed to the art of photography. First, she presented such a wonderful subject. Then we always had flowers. And we lived in exceptionally beautiful settings. And we had friends with wonderful young children who became my spontaneous models. I have focused on sunrises, clouds, flowers, children, and Virginia. In this show there are no children's photos because we decided not to use photographs requiring individual releases. There are none of my 12,000 photos of Virginia, because she is a very private lady. But, with these exceptions, you have a representative sample of my enthusiastic endeavors to explore the art of photography.
To inquire about purchasing artwork,
contact Jennifer Judelsohn at (703)273-0485 or
