“Photography is, first of all, a way of seeing. It is not seeing itself.”—Susan Sontag
Looking at Thomas Allen’s photographs, one is tempted to think these are photoshopped or digitally manipulated in some way. Instead, Allen carefully cuts, crafts and stages these three-dimensional scenes which are then shot on film using a large view camera and tilt-shift lens to achieve the special depth-of-field look. Allen is entirely self-sufficient and a confessed, “dyed-in-the-wool purist,” regarding his working technique. Everything must be as the camera captured it.
This latest series, “Beautiful Evidence,” inspired by his 8-year old daughter’s scientific curiosity, is currently on exhibit at Foley Gallery here in New York. The show ends on Sunday, but for a broader understanding, it’s worth visiting Allen’s site to discover more of this talented artist’s way of seeing. —Lane Nevares
