Shooting from the Heart

I tend to photograph from the heart, which is very different than working with your head. When I spot a scene that stirs my soul, whether it's automotive, roadside relics, or even plants, I photograph it. Then it's on to the computer, where I start working on the texture, value scale, and colors in post-processing. Here's an example, shot on a walk with my wife in La Jolla one warm sunny afternoon. We were making our way down a small dirt path on the edge of a cliff overlook when looking down it stopped me in my tracks with its unique shapes, opening to the sun and saying, "I dare you to touch me." As usual, my photograph, a little raw with some attitude.

Botanical Blend #6

This is from my "Botanical Collection " collection and is printed on archival paper. The image is 12"x 12" and is matted, with a black museum frame 16"x 16", ready to hang, and enjoy.

You may purchase it here and have it shipped to your door, or if you're in San Diego, pick it up at my studio on 30th Street, and I will refund the shipping. $275 + $30 to ship anywhere in the continental U.S. or Canada.

Retro Fair...

Retro, well not really. Only one year old. Shot at the San Diego County Fair...

Walking the midway zone early in the morning before the rides started taking on their passengers. I noticed the motionless Ferris wheel. As I stood at the bottom gazing up, it reminded me of a vintage ride from the past, maybe from Europe or a small mid-west town fair. Fairs I love. The smell of corn dogs, fried chicken, apple pie, sounds of kids screaming on the rides. and the smell of animals all blend in just fine...

This is from my "Fabricated Curiosities" collection and is an archival print. The image is 8" x 8" and is matted, with a black museum wood frame 12" x 12", ready to hang and enjoy in your B/W collection.

You may purchase it here for $85.00 plus shipping and have it shipped to your door, or if you're in San Diego, pick it up at my studio on 30th Street, and I'll refund the shipping of $25.00 to ship anywhere in the continental U.S. or Canada. This one Sold.

Shooting Pictorialism

I've always been drawn to "Pictorialism" for some reason when it comes to photography. It just resonates with me. In definition, it's an approach to photography with a soft-focus such as this gas station that emphasizes beauty of subject matter, tonality, and composition rather than the documentation of reality. Maybe it's my underlying desire to go back to slower times, as this was the hallmark of photographers in the first decades of the 20th century. Some of the greats that started shooting this way were; Edward Weston, Ansel Adams, and Imogen Cunningham. They would later reject the painterly atmospherics of pictorialism and set a course of sharper focus followed by the rest of the photographic world.

"Cafe 11"  © John Straub

This image was shown for the first time at Art Walk in Little Italy in May. It's from my "Road Side Salvage" collection and is archival pigment on high quality archival paper. There are two sizes available, a 16"x 24" for $95.95 plus $20.00 postage and 24"x 36" for $210.00 plus $20.00 postage shipped within the US or Canada. The larger of the two is signed and numbered out of a limited edition of 25. Both will come ready to be matted and framed.

Sizes Available

16"x 24" $95.95 USD 24"x 36" $210.00 USD