Biography

Doug Rhinehart began his involvement in photography in the late 60's with workshops at The Center of the Eye in Aspen, CO. He is largely self-taught with help from workshops at Colorado Mountain College, Anderson Ranch, and Brooks Institute. Some of the instructors have included: Paul Caponigro, Judy Dater, Ralph Gibson, and John Sexton. In 1976, he resigned his high school teaching position in order to pursue his personal photography. His work has primarily been in black and white and has used a variety of formats. His subject matter has been landscapes, southwestern architecture, nudes, and portraits. For the past several years, he has concentrated on large format, intimate landscapes of the desert and special areas in the Roaring Fork Valley of Colorado.

His work has been exhibited in galleries in solo, group, and juried shows throughout the West, as well as New York City. His photography is in private and corporate collections.

Doug is a retired administrator for Colorado Mountain College in Aspen, CO, and is an adjunct photo instructor for the college. Doug and his wife, Jean, have lived in the Aspen area since 1966 and have two grown daughters.



For a more detailed resume, please go to www.artistsregister.com and in "search" enter "rhinehart".

Artist Statement

My photography is a means for me to explore the landscape of my subconscious and I want to have the image be an equivalent expression of my innermost thoughts and emotions at the moment I took the photo. My photography is an exploration of how the physical world relates to my inner world. I am hopeful that the viewer will experience some of the same feelings I had when making the photo and see something never seen before in the world, or at least, see a new interpretation of a familiar subject.

My photos are simple and elemental in their compositions and my method of working is also simplified: I usually use just one camera format and use few lenses and only one or two types of black and white film. I work extensively in black and white because it gives the strongest interpretation to the expression I am trying to convey. I am not trying to give a literal interpretation to the subject I am photographing. Black and White lets me begin with an abstract interpretation of reality.

I have not "converted" to digital imaging as I prefer working with film and making silver prints. My work in the darkroom is a significant and vital contribution to the completion of the image as well as the creative process. I feel the darkroom is as important to me in the process as the actual taking of the photograph. Further, I enjoy working in the darkroom as I am a very tactile person and I feel more connected to my work. Conversely, I do not enjoy sitting in front of a computer and I feel a decided disconnect with the work.