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Artist Statement:
I tend to look for simplicity
in light and line. While
there are certainly those
instances where more is
required, so much can be
achieved with just a single
light and yet you constantly
fight the urge to
overcomplicate an image. For
me the goal is to show
something more ...
Further Information
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Artist Galleries:
Coming Soon!
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Collections:
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Commissions:
Coming Soon!
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Reviews for Alan Ticheler:
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The elegant nudes of Canadian art photographer Alan Ticheler owe much of their hypnotic grace and beauty to the use of simple, direct lighting and to the subtle way in which he allows the character of his models to come forward even in those nudes which would seem, on the surface, to be more impersonal in nature. With meticulous attention to mood, shadow and form he sculpts images of light which seem to rise out of their two dimensional format and give life to the strength and sensuality of the women he presents to the viewer.
Residing in Edmonton, Alberta, the gifted photographer began his study of the nude in the early 1990s. "My strength was always in natural light photography", he recalls "and I tried to bring that approach to the studio nude although there were times where I probably got too involved in the technology of it all. Pretty quickly I saw that what was required was simplicity and my posing and lighting came to reflect that philosophy."
When asked about influences Ticheler admits to a strong like for Renaissance and Impressionist art but insists that his photography probably owes more to old style Hollywood Imagemaker photography. "When I look at these old classic images it always amazes me just how much seems to have been accomplished with relative simplicity. My favorites were always the portraits where personalities just seemed to leap from the paper with some soft focus and a single soft light. It taught me a great deal about not overdoing things and when I did do a lot to make it look like I didn’t."
While there is bound to be some sexual connection when nudity is involved, Ticheler’s approach veers away from the obvious and leaves that connection to the viewer. "I try to look for visually compelling lines and shapes when I see the model and concentrate more on the aesthetic than the sensual" he says adding, "I tend leave that for the model to convey and for the viewer to contemplate. Having said that, I think that the way I treat each model comes from getting to know her a bit which maybe allows her to project some of her own personality and sensuality into the portrait. It isn’t something I consciously think of but I suppose it happens naturally on some level which is what gives each image its uniqueness."
This connection with the model is something Ticheler gives a great deal of credit to. "Interaction with the model has always been part of the formula for me. I tend to rely on amateur models and I find that the more personality she has the better the results. There is a lot of beauty and strength in real people and I know many models have told me they have even discovered that about themselves by seeing themselves portrayed in this manner."
As for digital technology Ticheler admits to a healthy interest. "I rely heavily on Adobe Photoshop and Corel PhotoPaint although the irony I suppose is that I use them more to create a simpler, classic look than to explore the cutting edge. I might admire the Rembrandt lighting in an image and then use ‘Paint to texture it more like and old oil painting or something. I think I use the technology more to enhance mood than to delve into the nouveau although that may well be a part of my evolution in the future".
For those not fortunate enough to view Alan Ticheler’s work in person, a gallery of his work can viewed on his official website located at http://www.amtphoto.com/figures
- Andreas Reuter
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