Diane Hopkins Hughs photography. Greenville SC

Statement

I consider myself a traditional black and white photographer who has been strongly influenced by West Coast ideologies, such as the fine print and formal elements. However for several years I have been involved in seeing beyond those traditions to incorporate collage and color applications. My vision is to see extraordinary images in the commonplace and to elevate those objects to a new height.

Design and pattern have captivated me and I want to do more than simply photograph images. When people look at my work I want them to experience finding beauty in something they would normally overlook. Subjects may be found in shadows, in a staircase, on a city street or in the soft curves of nature's movement. I usually work in a series of related images based on a theme or place.

---Diane Hopkins-Hughs

"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly...what is essential is invisible to the eye."

---The Little Prince, by Antoine De Saint-Exupery

Diane Hopkins-Hughs

Diane Hopkins-Hughs initially approached the photographic medium with the West Coast philosophy espoused by such recognized masters as Edward Weston. The carefully conceived and beautifully printed image was an ideal to be attained. While mastering the skills demanded by this direction, she soon found that a more open ended attitude suited her intellect and personality.

Her subjects and method of working have changed over the thirty years since Hopkins-Hughs began photographing. "I wanted to do more than just photograph images," she said. "I want people to see beauty in something they would ordinarily overlook." Subjects have been found in areas where she has lived, studied or traveled; they may be found in nature or on a city street. While her early work was black and white gelatin silver prints, she has been also hand coloring images to emphasize the fantasy as well as the real.

The distinguishing characteristic of this photographer's work is a refined sense of design. There are patterns found in rows of colorful bricks, in a staircase, and in the textures of eroded rocks worn by the water's flow. Shadows are discovered on rural grassy patches, textured sand or asphalt, from plant life, figures, and architectural forms.

Diane Hopkins-Hughs is concerned about people and how they function in a world that is often ugly and filled with frustrations. By photographing images that we see everyday, she is encouraging us to live in the present -- to integrate memories of the past and minimize concerns of the future. She gives order to the chaotic world we see daily and with her carefully designed and colored photographs, provides us with beautiful images for contemplation.

---Paul Rogers Harris, Independent Curator


	Galleries \| Biography \| Statement \| Contact \| Links Statement I consider myself a traditional black and white photographer who has been strongly influenced by West Coast ideologies, such as the fine print and formal elements. However for several years I have been involved in seeing beyond those traditions to incorporate collage and color applications. My vision is to see extraordinary images in the commonplace and to elevate those objects to a new height. Design and pattern have captivated me and I want to do more than simply photograph images. When people look at my work I want them to experience finding beauty in something they would normally overlook. Subjects may be found in shadows, in a staircase, on a city street or in the soft curves of nature's movement. I usually work in a series of related images based on a theme or place. ---Diane Hopkins-Hughs "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly...what is essential is invisible to the eye." ---The Little Prince, by Antoine De Saint-Exupery Diane Hopkins-Hughs Diane Hopkins-Hughs initially approached the photographic medium with the West Coast philosophy espoused by such recognized masters as Edward Weston. The carefully conceived and beautifully printed image was an ideal to be attained. While mastering the skills demanded by this direction, she soon found that a more open ended attitude suited her intellect and personality. Her subjects and method of working have changed over the thirty years since Hopkins-Hughs began photographing. "I wanted to do more than just photograph images," she said. "I want people to see beauty in something they would ordinarily overlook." Subjects have been found in areas where she has lived, studied or traveled; they may be found in nature or on a city street. While her early work was black and white gelatin silver prints, she has been also hand coloring images to emphasize the fantasy as well as the real. The distinguishing characteristic of this photographer's work is a refined sense of design. There are patterns found in rows of colorful bricks, in a staircase, and in the textures of eroded rocks worn by the water's flow. Shadows are discovered on rural grassy patches, textured sand or asphalt, from plant life, figures, and architectural forms. Diane Hopkins-Hughs is concerned about people and how they function in a world that is often ugly and filled with frustrations. By photographing images that we see everyday, she is encouraging us to live in the present -- to integrate memories of the past and minimize concerns of the future. She gives order to the chaotic world we see daily and with her carefully designed and colored photographs, provides us with beautiful images for contemplation. ---Paul Rogers Harris, Independent Curator