Photo by Tom Keller
As a photographer I seek chiefly to document and celebrate the profound and inherent dignity of all things, while endeavoring to reflect on their interconnected essence. Also I seek to evoke a sense of continual adaptation due to an evolving perception demanded by the impermanent, ever changing but natural order. I pursue these metaphorical goals mainly through three avenues of visualization. The recognition of the interpenetration of seemingly disparate visual elements which blurs the boundaries of their physical nature and renders the photograph a document of a newly formed organic composite. Also, an abstracted realism achieved through extreme and sometimes exaggerated close-up/cropping, and finally the majesty communicated through the macroscopic overview contribute to communicating the emotional content and the underlying meaning in the images.
Moreover, now that I am an artist with a disability, my purpose/message has changed considerably. I feel I must try somehow to communicate the importance of allowing the disabled community to state their artistic case, on their own terms, and on a level playing field, i.e. without the predisposition of others. I feel driven to share in my celebration of the work of other artists who are disabled and if possible to inspire those with a disability to seek out their artistic goals and dreams.
Michael Richard can be contacted via e-mail at: studiostudio@mindspring.com
