In his first solo exhibition at BAU, Dan Florin presents a portfolio of analog photographs that combine images from the natural world with modifications the artist makes in the darkroom. The juxtaposition of the natural world with superimposed geometric shapes and organic forms creates a perceptual and metaphorical tension that explores how we see the world around us. Florin’s creative process starts with sketching out ideas before going on location with medium- and large-format cameras to capture an image. Back in the darkroom, he develops the film, scrutinizes the contact sheets, and selects appropriate base images for the specific composition. This begins the multistep transformation of the images using creative darkroom techniques and masking films to produce the final altered print. In some photographs, Florin double-exposes drawings onto the photo paper; he creates other final works by blocking out certain areas of the composition, then dropping a new image into that space.

About the artist: A life-long photographer, Dan earned a BFA in Photography from SUNY New Paltz and later worked in New York City as a reproduction photographic printer where he developed his technical expertise. He also studied at the School of Visual Arts and the International Center of Photography. Dan exhibits widely in group and solo shows. He lives and works in Peekskill, NY.