David Stroup is searching for the spiritual connection between humanity and nature. And on his journey, he packs a camera.
Seeing the connection between the human spirit and the landscape that surrounds it through the lens of a camera has helped him share that vision.
He creates black-and-white, large-format photos that depict nature in its purest state and often include a human figure in its natural state. His work has been called unique, creative, and avant-garde.
Stroup said that the nude human figure symbolizes the human spirit, and he often describes his images as trying to show that humans are a part of the natural world—not separate from it.
He was first inspired to explore the human connection with nature by his mentor, Edna Bullock, who, along with her husband Wynn, often used nudes in her landscape photography.
“It was the spiritual content that was really resonating with me,” Stroup said. “I liked the search that was implied with the work and trying to find yourself in that space, integrated with the world around us.”
A native of Hartford, Conn., Stroup moved to the Central Coast in 1980. He’s been a photographer for nearly 30 years and, though many photographers have gone digital, Stroup stays true to the formats and processes that excited him about photography in the first place—like using black-and-white, large-format photos.
“I like the constraints and limitability of that work and living within those parameters,” he said.
He also likes the expressiveness and creativity of black-and-white photography.
“You want to set the tone, you want to set the mood with the print,” he said. “With color work, art becomes about the color and not about the emotion.”
Stroup said that he finds the inspiration for his photography to be endless. Different places or objects generate ideas for him. However, San Simeon has become a favorite place for him because of its remoteness and privacy.
“There’s no limit to what I’m interested in exploring with a camera,” he said.
He explained that the exploration always takes him on a different journey: “It’s always opening up new ideas, always taking you in new directions. You never have to repeat yourself.”
Stroup became interested in black-and-white photography after taking a photography course with instructor Jack Ward at Allan Hancock College when Stroup was in his early 20s.
He’s since been featured in many exhibitions, including shows at the Ansel Adams Gallery in Monterey, New Jersey Center for Visual Arts, Hilton Head Art League, and Santa Barbara Museum of Art. He’s also received many first place and best of show awards around the nation.
Stroup’s work will be on display at the David Ryan Gallery throughout November.
INFOBOX: On display
David Stroup will be the featured artist at David Ryan Gallery, 205 E. Clark Ave., Orcutt. An Art and Wine party for the artist will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Nov. 7. The gallery will be having an art sale, with discounts between 20 to 40 percent. For more information, call 937-1058 or visit www.davidryangallery.com.
Arts Editor Shelly Cone believes happiness is in the journey. Send comments to scone@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Oct 30 – Nov 5, 2008.
