Oklahoma City, OK based American New West Pop Photo artist Trayson Conner
I think of my life as a journey. I think about how that journey is unfolding and how people will look at it later, through my photography. I want my photos – everything from lighthouses and seascapes to mountains and moose – to tell my story and to tell it creatively. I don’t draw or paint, but the day I picked up a camera, I suddenly realized I had found my artistic outlet and, like any art form, my photography – my art – is extremely personal. When I look at my photos, I reminisce, reliving the experience of each one. I hope others will “live” through my photographs and join me on my journey as well.
I love being outdoors, hiking, jeeping, kayaking and just being part of the environment. As an adventurer, as well as an artist, I always have a camera with me, but never carry any expectations about what I might discover. Everyone stops occasionally to appreciate the scenery, but I like to ask what it is about that scenery that makes us say, WOW! I find that those ‘wows’ are always just around the corner. I shoot, and then shoot some more, until I’ve shot every angle possible. My subjects are varied – random, unrelated, spontaneous and natural. I’m always on the lookout for that new perspective on a familiar subject – I look for it not only through the lens, but in life in general.
I began my career by shooting pictures of bands and musicians. As others showed an interest and enthusiasm for my photos, I expanded what began as a hobby and started taking my camera with me everywhere I went. All photos were shot in digital format. I shoot only in color, but create prints in both color and black and white. I strive for a “timeless” image – a classic look – and whether a photo is in color or black and white often makes a dramatic difference in the impression it creates. I also edit some of my work into my "Art Series" images. They are creatively edited for color, design and texture. The bright colors and fun styles are sure to brighten any room.
We all want to be surrounded by things that make us feel good, and I hope to offer photographs of scenes – reminders, if you will – of those things that enhance our lives.
