William A. Loeb
is a digital photographer who lives in Brooklyn, New York.
Exhibitions
In 2011, William exhibited at David Ryan Salon on West 46th Street in Manhattan as a participant in the Hell's Kitchen Art Festival, and his exhibition "Things,"curated by Heidi Russell, ran from November through December at Manhattan Theatre Source. In January, 2012, his “See” exhibition, showed in the ground floor gallery space at St. Francis College in Brooklyn Heights, and he exhibited work at the Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition “Celebrate” show from May 12 through June 17, 2012. This summer, he exhibited in both the nationally juried and locally non-juried sections of the "Color" show at BWAC. Now, he is pleased to present a new solo show, "Artifacts," at Freddy's Bar, 627 Fifth Avenue (between 17th and 18th Streets) in Park Slope, Brooklyn from August 24 throough September 18 (reception on August 25 from 6-7:30 p.m., with music to follow).
Images of, and links to, exhibitions are available here:
David Ryan Salon, Summer 2011
"Things," at Manhattan Theatre Source, November-December 2011
"See," at St. Francis College, January 2012
"Celebrate" Member Show at Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition, May-June 2012
BWAC "Color" Show, July-August 2012
"Artifacts" Show at Freddy's Bar, August-September 2012
Artist's Statement
While I have been interested in photography of every kind from a very early age, I have always seen the camera as a means of creating an image rather than “recording” one.
Although increasing awareness of the use of Photoshop has focused attention on the concept of image manipulation in photography, every photographic image has always been the product of various processes chosen by the photographer. The first of these processes consists of the photographer’s own perception of the photographic possibilities inherent in the subject, and the resulting choice of framing, lighting, and other external variables. Another process takes place as the qualities of the lens and the camera’s settings, as well as the photographer’s degree of control over both, affect the image that will be focused on a piece of light-sensitive emulsion or a digital sensor. The photographer’s choices concerning the type of film or the qualities of the digital sensor, as well as characteristics and choices arising out of the camera’s electronics and “firmware,” constitute additional processes that both limit and enhance the image that the camera “records.” The “manipulation” of the image -- through the choice of darkroom chemicals, printing papers, equipment and techniques with film photography, or through computer software such as Photoshop in the case of digital photography, all dramatically affect the image to be produced. Film images can be, and often are, scanned to digital. Even the simplest digital camera now comes with basic software that will “enhance” the quality of the photo. For exhibition in a gallery, choices concerning mounting and paper further affect the image that the photographer will present. All of these processes, chosen by the photographer, produce what the viewer will see. In addition, of course, different people will “see” the image in different ways.
I embrace the creative possibilities arising from photographic processes, and find them to both inspiring and fun. Anything I see as a potential image is something that I know I will subject to a series of processes in order to come up with an image that I feel I can present to others. It is that image that constitutes, for me, the “original,” just as a painting or sculpture you’ll encounter in a gallery wall can be called an “original” of that item. I hope that you will also find some inspiration and fun in the things I have created.