Award winning photographer Melissa Mannon specializes in garden photography. Her photographs show a special sensitivity for her subjects, aiming to portray a strong bond between humans and nature.
Melissa possesses an undergraduate degree in art history and a graduate degree in archives management. Her photography reflects her art historical training, primarily in its strong compositions and use of color.
ARTIST STATEMENT
Natural lighting enhances the vivid colors and soft textures of the flowers. The images in my flower portfolio try to convey a feeling of serenity and oneness with nature, while emphasizing outstanding beauty, color, and radiance that we may not notice at first glance.
I specialize in garden portraiture and focus on flowers in full bloom. I seek vibrant colors that are enhanced by natural light at a particular moment. During the warm months, I find my subjects through serendipity, rather than seeking a particular plant and crafting a particular lighting situation. In the winter, I use natural light through a window with a southern exposure or, on particularly dark days, I use a sunlamp to mimic bright sunshine. My imagery demonstrates a love for nature and a celebration of the joys of life. Viewers have said that it seems as if you can reach out and feel the petals on my subjects.
I work solely in a digital medium and usually use a 100mm macro lens on a Canon Rebel EOS for photographing individual flowers. My macro lens allows me to focus at a very close range and to capture tiny subjects and detail that others may not even see.
A full stock list is available at my web site, along with a more complete portfolio and more information about my work. http://www.melissamannonphotography.com/
