dan flake photographic art is about what every photograper endevours: capturing images and representing them in their own distinctive way to provide a unique perspective on the every day world. my mottto is "visum futurum," meaning "look to the future:" show something never seen before or something seen before in a new way

the galleries link takes you to examples of these two modes of expression: "homage to rusted machines" and "altered photography"

homage to rusted machines

these images are close ups of parts of 'retired' farm equipment in a state of rusted disrepair. the varied parts of the machines were compelling, and tried to capture the details of what seemed to be microcosms of identity within the larger whole of each machine

altered photography

i use the term 'altered'photography' instead of 'enhanced photography' because i feel it to be closer to the way in which the images are created. 'enhancement' connotates taking a photograph and making it made it 'look better' or 'more interesting.' that is not a true characterization of what photographers are doing when creating these types of works. we aren't merely enhancing the photograph, we are creating a second piece of work based on the first piece. we approach this effort with the intent of making something new out of something completed; as if the photograph is a type of canvas or clay from which we start and allow our imaginations to shape the picture into something else. the alteration can be subtle or complete; in any case, it is new and discrete from the original

having been an amateur photographer for over thirty years, i began to seriously indulge in photography as an means for self-expression. like many photographers, my real passion is creating art. i have had other creative outlets over the years in music and writing, but photography is the most satisfying. images communicate both emotionally, like music, and intellectually, like the written word. photography combines the essence of both, and it satisfies my creative desires.

i am a member of the visual art league of lewisville, texas, and the visual art society of texas where i have been recognized several times for my artistic creativity in photographic art. i also received two first place awards by the ntcba (north texas business for culture and the arts) for both black-and-white and color photography. my black-and-white photograph - lever, cog, and spring - earned a spot in an exhibition at northpark center in dallas, texas in september 2007.