Tim Fleming
Profile
Many photographers can recall the defining moment when their image first appears on a blank sheet of paper floating in a tray of developer. Ensconced within the womb-like darkroom, all of one’s senses are sharpened; the pleasant gurgling of the water bath, the not so pleasant smell of fixer, the rhythmic clicking of the timer, the nurturing orange glow of the safelights. As the image slowly comes to life, it almost seems to possess a spirit, and I remember thinking that if I could command such a thing, I should treat it with all the reverence and respect it deserved.
At the time, I was very aware of carrying on a tradition. In college, I resolved to learn from those who had felt a similar stirring from within. Edward Weston, Minor White, Harry Callahan, Frederick Sommer, Jerry Uelsmann and Aaron Siskind spoke to me of the power of nature, the mystical unknown and transcendental experience that defies description. Other influences on my nascent spirituality included Thoreau and Zen Buddhism. I realized that Photography, as a means of expression, could reveal new meanings and new mysteries as well. Later, as I transitioned from the Black & White aesthetic to color, the lyric beauty of Eliot Porter and Ernst Haas drew me in. These formative experiences continue to influence my work today. I feel that my most successful images don’t simply portray a scene, but reveal something about our relationship with nature, and the eternal essence of the subject.
Groups
Tim Fleming is a member of Landscape Photography, Out of the Blue (75%+ Blue), The Fine Art of Photography and Waterfall Photography.
