This morning I spent some time re-editing and color grading a short documentary film I did of a painter named L.R. Montgomery. We met at the James T. Slavin Conservation Area just a few miles south of my home where he often goes to paint. It was extremely windy that day and I was never satisfied with the sound quality of the interview. New AI editing technology has become available and I was able to take the original video and improve the overall sound quality and color grading.
I started making documentary films independently back in 2001. I find that everything I do in terms of composition for a still image applies equally to cinematography. I enjoyed filming L.R. as he painted and treated it like I was making a landscape photograph and a photo essay.
I first came across Montgomery’s paintings over 30 years ago when I was having some of my work framed at 29th Avenue Artworks. I have been a fan of his work ever since. So much of what he does as a painter mirrors what I have learned about making photographs. When he first sets up a composition he actually intentionally blurs his vision by squinting so he can simplify the infinite details of the scene into their basic shapes and textures using a framing guide that helps him divide the canvas into smaller sections. Photographers and painters have to train their eyes to see the basic design elements that are the building blocks of a composition.
We talked about the influence of Van Gough’s work on his art and he explained that he had studied his work in detail and learned that there was a balance of warm and cool complimentary colors which adds the emotional impact to the paintings. For every warm colored brush stroke there is an opposite cool color brush stroke to create the illusion of depth and energy. With B&W photography it is the juxtaposition of highlights and shadows and in color photography we apply this technique in color grading.
What I most admire about L.R. is his commitment to doing the work regardless of the weather. He paints virtually every day and has been a full time artist for over 40 years. He embodies life to the fullest by entering into nature and accepting all the elements of temperature, light, and subject matter. At the end of our time together he talks about how “You can’t explain this day… being out here…if you had to put it in words. But I put it into an image that I will remember for the rest of my life.” I think that is what I am doing with photography.
He could have lived in LA but has chosen to remain in the inland northwest. I made the same choice as well but still need to make the commitment to creating work every day rain or shine.
I think I am heading in the right direction.