Carol Fisher Exhibits 40 Year Photographic Retrospective at UNM-Valencia Fine Arts Gallery

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Carol Fisher with one of her favorite shots taken in Asia.

LOS LUNAS, NM (02/15/2012)(readMedia)-- When Carol Fisher was hanging her exhibit of photographs in the UNM-Valencia Fine Arts Gallery, she mentioned that the show would be a retrospective.

"These are my favorite photographs," she said. "It will be interesting to see where I've been for the past 40 years."

Fisher has been a number of places and photographed people throughout the world. Those who visit the Fine Arts Gallery will have an opportunity to see what has interested Fisher.

The show, titled "40 Years of Photographs," will be on display through March 1. The gallery is open Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm, and admission is free.

What is revealed in her photographs can be found in her artist statement on her website (www.cfisher.biz): "I enjoy connecting with people and places through the camera. To explore and record how people and cultures experience their lives. To print a photograph that evokes a response from the viewer. To share my enjoyment of life and living."

Fisher has travelled extensively throughout the world, particularly through Asia where she has visited Japan, China, Viet Nam and Laos.

She has a friend who lives in China and while she was there for two months, Fisher had the opportunity to travel through the back country and capture how people live. Fisher noted that the Chinese have a great sense of humor and that in both China and Viet Nam that the people "considered it an honor to be photographed."

Farmers and people who work the land are subjects for many of her Asian pictures. There is an honesty to the photos as we see these people going about their lives.

Besides seeing people in their environment, Fisher also likes to focus on the environment. One piece in the exhibit is of a raging forest fire in New Mexico that was taken from her car. Toward one corner of the picture is the rear view mirror and a reflection of Fisher with her camera.

"That was quite by accident that that happened, but I really like how I am in the corner of the photo," she said.

That particular color photo with the huge plume of smoke evokes images of Ansel Adams, who was famous for his elegant black-and-white landscapes.

It just so happens that Fisher had the opportunity to study with Adams in 1981-83. What was it like to study with probably the best known American photographer of the 20th century?

"He was fabulous and so generous with his time," Fisher said.

Something that Fisher has learned over the years, and was emphasized by Adams, is that "you still have to have the eye." Photography is much more than having a camera and lenses and equipment.

In her workshops with Adams, Fisher said that participants were taught to stop and look. "We would break up into groups of five and spend the morning shooting," Fisher said.

Then it was back to the darkroom to develop film and make contact sheets. The rest of the day would be spent looking at each other's work. Each person's perspective would be different.

"I give talks to camera clubs," Fisher said, "and they don't like what I have to say."

Fisher's advice to budding photographers always boils down to this: If you want to make money, go to a commercial school and learn how to shoot weddings and do studio work. If you want to do art photography, "take time to look.

"Look at other photographs and other photographer's work," Fisher said. "Get your technique down because everything under the sun has already been photographed."

From silver gelatin to digital work, from black-and-white to color, Fisher's exhibit features some bright spots from Asia, to South America, to the United States. Take Fisher's advice and take time to look.