Mary Arnold, a Canadian artist with a career spanning forty-five years, has navigated the intricate dance between analogue and digital photography, crafting visual stories that are both captivating and evocative. What sets Mary Arnold apart from her contemporaries is not merely her keen eye for detail but also her audacious choice of medium. Her digital stitched panoramic photographs are a testament to her technical prowess and artistic vision. However, it’s her unique printing method that truly elevates her work. Arnold prints her photographs on aluminium, seamlessly blending the traditional with the contemporary, adding a modern flair to timeless landscapes.
Arnold’s journey into the world of photography began in a pre-digital era when the process was laborious and the results were a blend of skill and chance. Over the years, she worked with the analogue methods, creating images that were rich in detail and narrative. Her transition into digital photography was not just a shift in tools but a reimagining of her artistic expression. The digital stitched panoramas she creates are complex compositions that offer a new perspective on familiar landscapes.
One of the hallmarks of Arnold’s work is her use of aluminium as a printing medium. This choice is not merely aesthetic; it’s a deliberate attempt to merge the old with the new. The metallic sheen of aluminium gives her images a modern, almost futuristic feel, while the subjects themselves often harken back to more traditional, natural scenes. This blend of elements creates a unique tension in her work, drawing viewers into a dialogue between the past and the present.
In recent years, Arnold has embraced mobile phone photography, particularly using her Apple ProMax iPhone. This shift might seem like a departure from her carefully crafted panoramas, but it’s a natural progress in her practice. The mobile phone, with its accessibility and ease of use, has democratized the art of photography, allowing more people to create and share their visual stories. For Arnold, this method is both a challenge and an opportunity. It forces her to rethink composition, lighting, and subject matter in a more immediate, spontaneous way.
Arnold’s new body of work, composed of images taken with her phone, reflects a keen awareness of contemporary cultural shifts. She views the mobile phone as an egalitarian tool, one that levels the playing field and allows anyone with a camera-phone to create art. This perspective is particularly relevant in today’s world, where the boundaries between professional and amateur photography are increasingly blurred. The immediacy of mobile photography aligns with the fast-paced nature of modern life, capturing fleeting moments that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Arnold brings the same eye for detail and composition to her phone images as she does to her stitched panoramas. Each photograph is carefully considered, often edited down from a large volume of images to find the perfect shot. This editing process is crucial, as it allows Arnold to maintain a high standard of quality in her work.
Arnold’s images feel personal, like glimpses into her daily life and experiences. This sense of immediacy and connection is a significant departure from the more staged and composed nature of her panoramic work. Yet, there is a common thread that runs through all her photography: a deep appreciation for the beauty and complexity of the world around her.
Arnold’s willingness to experiment with new technologies and methods while staying true to her artistic vision is what makes her work so compelling. She doesn’t shy away from the challenges posed by new mediums; instead, she embraces them, finding ways to integrate them into her practice. This openness to change and innovation is a testament to her enduring relevance in the ever-evolving field of photography.
In conclusion, Mary Arnold’s work is a celebration of both tradition and modernity. Whether she’s creating panoramic landscapes printed on aluminium or capturing everyday moments with her iPhone, her photography is always marked by a keen eye for detail and a deep sense of narrative. Arnold’s work reminds us that the medium may change, but the essence of art—its ability to capture and convey the human experience—remains constant.
