Friday Art Star: Frank Lopez

Frank Lopez is a 42 year old photographer who is the photographic instructor at Greenhill School. He was raised in Texas, received a Bachelors from East Texas State University, and spent a large part of the last 18 years freelancing. He currently resides in East Dallas and loves all things old or antique. Here is what he had to share with us about his love for photography (we love that one of his inspirations is the State Fair of Texas, because if you’ve been, you know exactly what he’s talking about!):

When and how did you become interested in photography?

I was about 8 years old and my mother pulled off the side of the road in Oak Cliff to view a pasture of horses. We had a polaroid camera in the car and that is when I took my first picture. The magic of an instantaneous image was entrancing and I was hooked. Some years later, I had graduated high school and was going to take over the family business. For some reason the idea of photography as a living popped back into my head and away I went.

What gear do you mainly use?

My gear is very simple: either medium or large format pinhole cameras, a diana camera for more spontaneous moments, and currently a 4×5 view camera for my fledgling ambrotypes and tintypes. Other than that, I only use a digital when I am getting paid for a corporate job or for teaching. I prefer the tactile quality of film.

What is your favorite genre to shoot?

I am a fine artist, working within the context of the cultural landscape. In the past, I was a society wedding and corporate photographer. I am purely interested in my personal work now and hope to bring ambrotypes and tintypes to a more commercial/private commission setting (once my technique is perfected).

Many times photographers find themselves with a full schedule of paying gigs, and end up with little time for doing the work they truly love. Do you struggle with finding time for your personal work?

I don’t struggle with time to make my own work. If the work is important enough, then a person will find the time. I am quite busy at all times, but I create large bodies of work when traveling in the summers and spend the rest of the year retouching, printing and selling. I am headed to China, Korea and Vietnam for six weeks this summer. At this moment, I am spending all my time in perfecting my methods in the wet plate processes (a new found passion).

Where do you find your inspiration?

Music. Plain and simple (and all kinds). Also, State Fair of Texas, cinema, books, writing, traveling, antiques, etc… It is all important, but I could not live without music.

Do you have any upcoming shows or events you want our readers to know about?

I am exhibiting in the Southern Open at the Acadiana Center for the Arts, Lafayette, LA. The exhibition was juried by prominent art critic, Eleanor Heartney, a contributing editor to Art in America and critique at large. May 9 – July 25.

I will also have three prints in the upcoming Hecho en Dallas/Made in Dallas 2008 exhibition at the Latino Cultural Center
July 2 and ends August 22

I just finished exhibiting prints at the Barrett Art Center Photowork 09 Exhibition, Poughkeepsie, NY. The 22nd Annual Nationwide contest was juried by Malcolm Daniel, curator of Photography, Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What is one thing you feel makes your style or your work unique?

I consider myself an antiquarian avant garde artist, choosing a contemplative approach to imagemaking. I am interested in serendipitous moments, the magic of light and time.

Samples of Frank Lopez’s work

If you are a photographer in the DFW area, and would like to be featured for our Friday Art Star, please email some examples of your work to info@photopolus.com

More of Frank’s work can be found at www.franklopez.com