Timm Chapman Photography
Exhibited January, 2009

       December marked the first official start of Winter -- how appropriate that images of polar bears and stark landscapes graced the walls of the visitor center gallery at Boyce Thompson Arboretum during January. Pinal County resident and professional photographer Timm Chapman was out featured guest a solo exhibition.
      "The Arboretum show featured a variety of my images including shots from the Lords of the Arctic series which captures the great Polar Bear on the tundra of Northern Canada," said Chapman, whose photography manages to encompass dramatic landscapes -- and also intimate spaces. His unique Sands of Time series showcases the power and beauty of sand, particularly focusing on an eerie town that is being consumed by the sands of the Namib Desert in Southwest Africa.

       "I moved to Arizona primarily to live amongst the spectacular landscapes we are so fortunate to be surrounded by," said Chapman. "My home, which is located in the foothills of Superstition Mountain is an ideal base for photography as there are so many options nearby, most notably Superstition itself and of course, the Arboretum. What makes the Arboretum a destination for photography? For me its the chance to experiment with texture. The cacti and succulents are spectacular models for going in close to reveal the intricate patterns and textures of their composition. They make for ideal abstracts that lend themselves equally well to black-and-white or colour."

       Photographers who wished to learn from the artist enrolled in a three-hour "texture walk" offered twice during the month, where the artist lead a dozen photographers through the Cactus Garden talking about photography techniques and offering tips about improving composition and capitalizing on natural textures. To learn about photography classes here, call 520-689-2723 during daytime business hours.

       Chapman is an award-winning photographer whose work hangs in both private and corporate collections in North America and Europe. His images have been featured in publications including National Geographic Traveler and United Airlines' Hemispheres' magazine.

          Chapman purchased his first 'real' camera at age 12, embarking on a self-taught education in the art of photography. "At the time, I didn't know this would become a life-long journey of learning, filled with challenge and reward," said Chapman. "Over the years I've dabbled in all aspects of the medium, before finally settling on my greatest love: landscape portraiture with Mother Nature as my model. Capturing Mother Nature is a daunting task. She has many moods..many faces and a spectrum of beauty that is a true challenge to capture accurately. All elements have to come together to give her the justice she deserves. Light. Composition. Drama. Each must be present to capture an image that evokes emotion."

      "It is a challenge that I calculate as ninety-nine percent frustration and one percent elation," said Chapman. Vivid colour saturation and sharp, detailed realism of his images are partly attributable to his chosen equipment. He shoots almost exclusively in film using a 6-by-7 format camera which produces original images four times larger than standard 35 millimeter film. As such he is able to capture actual colours (as opposed to 'perceptual' colour), subtle tonal ranges and details that remain beyond the grasp of digital cameras.

      Born in the United Kingdom and raised in Canada, Chapman currently finds his home at the foot of the Superstition Mountains in Arizona, the heart of the Desert Southwest, "but I know that my pursuit to capture Mother Nature in all her glory will continue to take me all over the globe."

Limited edition museum mount and canvas gallery-wrapped works on exhibit ranged from 16x24 to 30x40 and were available for purchase on site. Many of his images can also be found in the galleries of his website onevisionphoto.com. For Custom needs and inquiries he can be reached at 480-671-4979 or browse galleries and read more at  http://onevisionphoto.com

         Boyce Thompson Arboretum is located near Highway 60 milepost #223, just three miles west of the town of Superior - a drive of about one hour east of Phoenix or two hours from Tucson. Pima County drivers should take Oracle Road North to Highway 79 past Florence to Highway 60, then East for another 12 miles. Monthly exhibits may be seen in our Visitor Center gallery daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from September-through-April. Summer hours during May/June/July/August are 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Arboretum is an Arizona State Park and daily admission must be paid to enter the Visitor Center where the gallery is found. Admission is $7.50 for adults and $3 for ages 5-12. Annual memberships at the Arboretum begin at $45, and include a year's access, guest passes for your friends and family, along with many other benefits. A membership may be purchased in the gift shop on the day of your visit. Review other recent gallery shows by ...

Paul Kinslow December, 2008
Maggie Leef November 2008
Sharon Sieben October 2008
Nicole Royse September 2008
Gila Community College Art July-August 2008
Judy Bottler Photography May 2008
Bob Estrin Photography April 2008
Mary Isham Watercolors March 2008
Susan Strom and Cathy Franklin Lightning Photography February, 2008
Arizona State Parks Plein Air Paintings January, 2008
Carolyn Gray & Connie Thomas December, 2007
Jean Sullivan November, 2007 Sue Cullumber October, 2007
Adriane Grimaldi September, 2007
Pima College print-making students July-August, 2007
Mesa Arts League June-July, 2007
Fred Charlton May, 2007
Paul Mudersbach March-April, 2007
Linda Kaiser February, 2007
Edith Kreueger-Nye December, 2006 - January, 2007
Cindy Carrillo October-November, 2006
Bob Rice September, 2006
Bud Heiss July-August, 2006
Mesa Arts League June-July, 2006
Sandy Tracey April-May, 2006
CJ Rider March, 2006
Jessica Green February, 2006
Steve Davidson January, 2006
Don & Carole Schupp December, 2005
Carolyn Gray November, 2005
Martha Burgess October, 2005
Boeing Photographers September, 2005
Lightning Lady Susan Strom July/August, 2005
Mesa Arts League June/July, 2005
Jeanette Bronson May, 2005
Tom Stanley April, 2005
Kathy McClure February-March, 2005
Pam Smyth January, 2005
Tina Faust December, 2004