Hokusai says look carefully
He says pay attention, notice
He says keep looking, stay curious
He says there is no end to seeing…
From Hokusai Says, by Roger Keyes
Artist’s Statement
The ability to see is an amazing illusion of sorts, because what we see, or think we see, is actually one step removed from reality.
When light strikes things out in the world—a coffee cup, for example—certain wavelengths bounce off the cup and fall onto the retina at the back of our eyes. An image of the cup then forms on the retina—but we don’t see that image of the cup. Rather, the image on the retina generates electrical impulses and those impulses get interpreted by the brain as the cup in front of us. That is seeing.
In this sense, we are all artists, interpreting the images that fall onto our retinas.
The overarching point-of-view in my work is one of wonder and curiosity. I am curious by nature and tend to notice things others don’t see. Often, it’s just seeing familiar things in a new way. To me, there is beauty in simple things, both natural and man-made. But this beauty can get lost in day-to-day life.
Allow me to show you the beauty of things you might have overlooked.
The subjects of my work are often put in isolation to highlight how special they are. My work also includes images of everyday interactions that likely both amaze and puzzle me.
The purpose of my work is completely personal. I make photographs that interest me for what the particular scene said or meant to me, or how it made me feel, in that moment.
I have no desire to tell you what you should see in my work. If you choose to view it here, I want you to have a personal, authentic experience with it. The meaning you find in my work is as valid as the meaning that inspired me to make the photograph.
I appreciate the time you spend with my work. I hope you enjoy it.
Steven Anthony, Torino, Italy, 2024
About the Artist:
Steven spent his early years in Buffalo, New York, and attended university there. He learned a lot about photography, and art in general, from his sister who studied and later taught art.
Steven did his own darkroom work and printed photographs from film, starting in high school in the 1970s through 2001, moving his equipment from Buffalo to Chicago and then on to Minneapolis. As digital photography became more viable in terms of image quality, Steven moved away from film and adapted to the digital darkroom.
Steven had a long career in marketing and advertising, including running his own consulting firm for 20 years. During that time, he did some fashion and product photography in addition to his own landscape and cityscape photographic work.
Now, Steven is retired and lives in Torino, Italy, with his wife, Silvia. After a 10-year hiatus from photography, Steven has returned to making photographs with a focus on fine-art street, architectural, and abstract photography.
About the Photographs:
I don’t title my work. Instead, photographs have a catalog code. This code allows me to find a given photo quickly in my photo library and archives. If you have questions or comments about a particular image, please include its catalog code.
A description of what compelled me to photograph a particular scene is available for you to read—but it is a click away from the image. This allows you to have your experience with the image before reading about mine.
Reaching Out:
You-to-me: Please let me know when an image of mine resonates with you and why (if you can articulate it). Hearing what others see in my work is always of interest to me. This feeds my curiosity of how different our points-of-view can be. See the Contact page to send me an email.
Me-to-you: I have a newsletter (see sign-up form below) and a YouTube channel (link via icon above). If you subscribe to the newsletter, you will get updates on my work and any image descriptions that get updated with new insights. You’ll also get a code for 30% off your first order at the Shop.
My YouTube channel will cover topics around my approach to my work, specific techniques I employ, the gear I use, how I approach image processing and experimental work I’m doing, to list just a few.
This periodic newsletter will provide you with insights into my creative process, the photographs you see on my website, and peeks at some of my experimental work.
There is no set schedule for the newsletter—when there is something of interest to share, it will be published in an issue of No End To Seeing News, and you can read all about it. And all published issues of the newsletter will be available on this website.
You can sign up for the newsletter below.
Like the newsletter, I will periodically make videos on YouTube. Your input is welcome here—if you have questions, let me know. If a video answer seems appropriate, I’ll post it on my channel—otherwise I’ll answer via email. Soon, the channel will have a video of me introducing myself and talking a little bit about how I got into photography.