I am passionate about photography; not just the finished, printed photograph, but also the photographic process of visualizing and then creating the printed image from the millions of pixels that when combined represent what I experienced and felt when looking through the camera’s lens. For me, the photographic process is not complete until I convey to the viewer my excitement, whether produced by the play of light and shadow, by bold colors, by subtle tonalities, by rich textures, or by the intensity or even the calmness of the overall image. My goal is for the viewer to be moved or intrigued by what they see, regardless of whether their reaction is the same as what inspired me to make the photograph. While I use the most modern digital photographic equipment, my style and technique are traditional. In the digital “darkroom” it is not unusual to spend hours “processing” and printing an image that may have taken just 1/30th of a second to “capture.” Although I take advantage of state-of-the-art equipment, I generally confine my digital processing to the highly innovative and creative techniques of a true master of the conventional darkroom, Ansel Adams. I try to imagine what Ansel might have created given the amazing cameras and technology available to us today. Through photography I communicate what motivates me to press the shutter release. The writer uses words; the musician uses musical notes;the painter uses brush strokes; the potter uses clay. Photography enables me to present the magic of the world around us in a way that stimulates more than the viewers sense of sight, but also hopefully evokes their emotions, their feelings and imagination
I live in Bethesda, Maryland, have been a member of Multiple Exposures Gallery at the Torpedo Factory Art Center since 2005, and an Associate member of the Torpedo Factory Artists Association(TFAA) since 2006. I specialize in landscapes and cityscapes, although I enjoy photographing many other subjects. I have photographed all over the world, but the location is less important than the emotional connection I feel and the impact a particular subject has on me. I truly enjoy sharing my enthusiasm for photography and I provide individual instruction, classes, workshops and presentations on a wide variety of photographic topics.
While I use the most modern digital photographic equipment, my style and technique are traditional. In the digital “darkroom” it is not unusual to spend hours “processing” and printing an image that may have taken just 1/30th of a second to “capture.” Although I take advantage of state-of-the-art equipment, I generally confine my digital processing to the highly innovative and creative techniques of a true master of the conventional darkroom, Ansel Adams. I try to imagine what Ansel might have created given the amazing cameras and technology available to us today. Through photography I communicate what motivates me to press the shutter release. The writer uses words; the musician uses musical notes; the painter uses brush strokes; the potter uses clay. Photography enables me to present the magic of the world around us in a way that stimulates more than the viewers sense of sight, but also hopefully evokes their emotions, their feelings and imagination.
Alan Sislen lives in Bethesda, Maryland and has been an avid photographer for more than 50 years. Landscape photography is his passion and he has photographed in the United States, France, Italy, Canada, England, Norway, Iceland, Chile, Namibia, South Africa and New Zealand. Initially he worked in a traditional black and white darkroom and in the early 1970’s processed and printed Cibrachrome color prints in his darkroom. In 2001, Alan embraced digital and because of the rapid advances in digital equipment, digital processing and printing, Alan attends, on an ongoing basis, seminars and workshops intended to hone his craft, while improving his “art” is an important ongoing priority. He also is a highly regarded instructor. Alan has studied with well-known British landscape photographer Charlie Waite, former National Geographic photographer Bruce Dale, wildlife enthusiast Moose Peterson, former photojournalist Michael Reichmann, digital expert Thom Hogan, fine art photographer Vincent Versace, John Sexton, Julia Anna Gaspodarou, photographic artist and Photoshop master John Paul Caponigro, fine art photographer Charles Cramer and color management and printing expert Bill Atkinson, and Photoshop expert Eliot Cohen. In 2005 he was juried into Multiple Exposures Gallery at the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria, Virginia, and was juried into the Torpedo Factory Artists Association (TFAA) as a Resident Artist in 2006. In 2007, he was juried into VisArts, in Rockville, Maryland as one of 9 Resident Artists.
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