Jeff Clinedinst
I am a native of the valley currently living in Edinburg, Virginia. My formal education, and current career, is in engineering. I began teaching myself photography and digital imaging about three years ago. My interest in fishing and hiking often placed me in locations that I wanted to document, but could not capture the scenes as I visualized them with the small automatic camera I was carrying. I bought an older model SLR, and through extensive reading and experimentation, I learned the basics of exposure and composition, and quickly learned what the camera and the film inside are capable of.
I was drawn to photography by the ability to capture and compose images in a manner that the eyes cannot, whether by exposure, perspective, or digital compositing. The work of artists such as Jerry Uelsmann and John Paul Caponigro helped lure me into this hobby. The technical and scientific aspects of photography are also appealing to me. I have recently begun experimenting with traditional B&W films and developers, and am intrigued by the endless possibilities with films and chemistry. I find photography to be a comfortable balance between science, engineering, and art. Now if I could just find a way to add in some music…
I am excited with the opportunity to collaborate with Mossy Creek and the local gallery and shop owners I have met. What I have offered in the galleries thus far is a traditional view of the nature that surrounds us as seen through my eyes. I see my current photography as a step in an evolving process to create images that lie beyond our reality, but are still grounded in the nature that is recognizable to each of us. I invite you to join me in my progress and enjoy your visit. - Jeff
