Featured Artist Kevin Boldenow

Kevin Boldenow’s life-long passion for photography began the moment he picked up his parents’ Brownie camera.  Since that time, Kevin has built a career as a professional photographer specializing in 35mm, medium format, and digital landscape and figurative imagery.  In addition to his native Michigan, Kevin has lived in five states, including Texas, New Jersey, and Virginia, before moving to Florida in 1996.

Inspired by the density and drama of the landscape, Kevin began to work primarily in black & white, and black & white infrared film, as a way to capture the myriad textures and details found in the overwhelmingly verdant landscape.  Unlike color, Boldenow believe’s that black & white more dramatically reveals the combination of light, heat, and shadows found in the already mystical landscape.  In his own words, Kevin seeks to instill “a sense of awe of the natural environment and the feeling of serenity we have when we allow ourselves to truly experience the beauty of nature”.

Boldenow’s images make you take careful observation of the subject matter.  The subtle beauty captivates your senses.  You can almost feel the sun’s rays playing through the trees, hear the harmonic chorus of morning insects, and experience the smell of moistened earth and dew on the rich foliage.  As a natural extension of the love of nature, Kevin has progressed into creating Fine Art Nudes, primarily in a natural setting.  Boldenow’s work continues to evolve, ever experimenting and expanding his work and style.

Boldenow’s work has been presented throughout the state of Florida,  having received numerous awards, including the South Florida Cultural Consortium Fellowship for Visual and Media Artists(2004).  Boldenow also has served as President of the Lighthouse Gallery Camera Club from 1999-2002,  works as an instructor at the Elliott Museum, and has now started a Photography Group in Martin County.

Artist’s Statement

At an early age, my Father pointed out the importance of nature.  I learned how ignoring Mother Nature’s wonders could only lead to certain disaster.  Growing up in the 1960’s, I realized how destructive a course we had taken – dumping pollutants in the Great Lakes, air quality, and the use of DDT and other pesticides without proper testing was upsetting the balance of our ecology.  My Junior High School class participated in the first Earth Day celebration at the University of Michigan.  It left a lasting impression.

I am not interested in coercing people to become die-hard environmentalists, but rather to look at my photography and recognize the beauty, vitality, and necessity of our natural resources.  By viewing my photography, I hope that people make a concerted effort to preserve the environment for the pleasure and responsible use for future generations.

Thematically, my photography is a look outside our surroundings.  I want people to feel as if they are a part of my picture.  We are a part of nature, and coexist with every living thing on this planet.  Harming nature inflicts damage on all of us, and does away with a piece of our soul.

I’m hoping my photography, no matter where taken, creates a better understanding of our environment.  I want my audience to recognize the beauty and power of nature, not just in Florida, but everywhere in the world.

My Father would be proud.

Please visit Kevin Boldenow’s website for his complete portfolio and more information.