"North Shore" by Dennis Segers
North Shore
Dennis Segers
Media: Hand painted Platinum Palladium process on Hahnemuhle platinum rag paper
Size: 13" x 16" x 1"
Price: $450
Artist Statement:
Like many photographers, I have always found trees to be compelling subjects. But I’ve also seen them as sources of personal inspiration. More than mere form, line, and texture, they symbolize strength in solitude, value in community, and adaptability to the changing seasons of life. I am in awe at the tenacity and perseverance some display as they struggle to survive in environments so challenging that one has to ask, “How did a tree come to be there?” Like a newborn child who has no choice regarding the circumstances of their birth, a seedling cannot choose its soil. Nor can it control its environment or prevent calamity. It must adapt or die. Yet, even in death, some will leave a lasting and beautiful legacy. The dignity and grace of bare branches, toppled trunks, or exposed roots record a life's milestones. Stripped of ornamentation, the melancholy forms offer a compelling symbol, a gift of remembrance to a world that continues forward. As a metaphor, these remain and demand retrospection. As I enter the Autumn of life, their forms serve as a personal challenge. The images in this series aren’t intended as landscapes. Rather, they are intimate portraits of beloved teachers. I printed each by hand in the darkroom using a platinum/palladium process. Known for its sublime tonality and longevity, the process mirrors my reverence for these trees and for the beautiful legacy they leave behind.
Artist Bio:
Dennis Segers is a fine art photographer and printmaker residing in Carmel, CA. Trained as an engineer, his interest in landscape photography began in the 1980’s while living in the Pacific Northwest. Hiking the slopes of Mt Rainier with a Nikon FE camera and Kodachrome 64, he learned photography from the writings of John Shaw and Galen Rowell. His interest in photography and career in integrated circuit development formed parallel arcs, providing a first-hand perspective on the digital transformation of photography. Today, he works principally with digital cameras but seeks to blend the best of digital and analog throughout the workflow. Dennis serves as a volunteer at the Center for Photographic Arts in Carmel, CA and is a member of the Image Makers of Monterey.
Photo Process:
Images in this series are hand-printed using the traditional Platinum / Palladium process on Hahnemuhle platinum rag paper. Each print is finished with a hand application of bees-wax, dry-mounted on museum rag board, signed and numbered on the back.
