Samantha Taylor

Endings and New Beginnings 5

Digital Pigment Print

8 x 10", framed to 9.5 x 12"

$45

I have always been fascinated with autumn. From the warm hues of the leaves to the bright, vibrant blue skies, autumn represents things coming to an end. As I was leaving college then, autumn also meant an ending of one chapter and a celebration of the next chapter of my life.

Artist's Statement: 

My work focuses on the natural environment and botanical life, emphasizing light, color, and time, with my main inspiration being the Impressionist period of the late 19th century. During that time, the photographic process became more publicly available and accessible, and artists saw this as an opportunity to expand their craft. With photography, painters like Degas and Monet captured the moment and studied the image's light, color, and movement to create immersive, atmospheric paintings. Because of photography, a new art style was born and is still talked about today.

I am drawn to familiar locations, such as public gardens, parks, and other outdoor settings, and I seek new places to study and take inspiration. With my camera, I go to sites where nature is all around me, and the natural lighting is essential to me. I also take my time and pace myself to fully embrace what is around me and take in the environment.

I create these atmospheric scenes and images based on the Impressionist philosophy of being in the moment with my photographs. I do this by studying the first photographers of the 19th century and looking into modern influences. With digital editing, I can add what I want for my image's hue, saturation, and overall arrangement. I want people who see my photos to view the world how I see it and feel like they can step into the photograph and experience it firsthand.