The Artistic World of Landscape/Waterscape Photographer Gary Kuehn

Nature’s beauty inspires my writing, as does art that takes nature as its subject. I’m interested in the ways a focus on landscape and water plays out for painters and photographers. Recently I updated my website and wanted images that reflect my writing, in particular, the world of Montauk, Long Island, where my most recent fiction is set, and turned to photographer Gary Kuehn (garyjkuehn.com).

The gorgeous shot of the Montauk lighthouse by Gary on my home page appealed to me for the quality of the light, with its stunning peach hues, and the startling contrast in the illumination of the lighthouse. Gary’s photos are transportive; they allow me to enter and feel a part of the scene they depict. 

I was curious to know how Gary came to photography, how he found his subject, how he gets his effects, and what he is trying to achieve. What follows is from our conversation about his work.

Finding his way:

Gary got the photography bug as a kid. He did his own developing in a darkroom in the family’s basement, working in black and white. Even so, it was only when a neighbor suggested he try a digital camera, and he could dispense with chemicals and developing, that he committed to photography as his life’s passion. Most compelling for him is the immediate gratification and freedom of taking as many shots as he likes. 

Aesthetics and Influences:

Gary’s aim is to capture his shots in the present, to get his effects “in the camera.” Although he has a background in engineering and is facile with computers, he isn’t interested in what he can do technically in PhotoShop or other programs and does very little manipulating of photos after the fact.  He says if he finds himself spending more than 10 minutes fidgeting with an image, he knows it doesn’t work for him.

He admires and is inspired by masterly photographers like Ansel Adams, former National Geographic photographer Joe McNally, and others whose work he’s studied closely. He appreciates Ansel especially for his compositions and Joe McNally for his amazing use of artificial light.

Finding his subject:

Gary fell in love with Montauk early in life, drawn to the big sky and especially to water. He is a kayaker and a serious fisherman, so water means something personal to him. He is enthralled by exploring its color, texture, and ephemeral nature, whether frozen or frothing, still or in motion. “I can go to the same spot over and over. If you take the time to absorb your surroundings and truly be immersed, you’ll see something different every time.” Doing photography helps him become more observant and to slow down. He often goes on “photography walkabouts” for many hours, wandering and shooting what he comes upon. In these moments, as he becomes engrossed, he enters a soothing, contemplative state where troubles melt away. Photography is his art and his private personal time. Perhaps this deep immersion is what gets transmitted in the work to the viewer and gives it such resonance.

Creative process:

Gary is intrigued with the mechanics of the camera — playing with different apertures and speeds and discovering how best to take photos at night, or how to capture motion. Experimenting keeps him growing artistically through the creative peaks and valleys. By continually challenging himself to do something different, he sustains his interest.

For instance, in the photo above, besides achieving the extraordinary color you see, Gary attains a kind of shimmer, a perception of blur or motion throughout the image. This was intentional. To get the effect, he took the photo while panning with the camera horizontally. “Shutter speed and panning had to be just right. It took patience and many attempts such that it wouldn’t look over- or underdone in terms of the effect. I got the blending of colors I was hoping for.”

Gary’s peak experience is when he has an image in his mind and then is able to produce it.  For his shot for my website, it was early morning on a summer day, and he wanted to capture the lighthouse as the sun rose, yet he also wanted the structure to be in sharp relief and to still be illuminated as it is overnight. He also was looking for certain specific colors, colors that he didn’t actually perceive in the sunrise. He decided to try a longer exposure, and he thinks that’s how he achieved what he was after.

Aside from his technical aims, what he wants is to capture an essence of something and to elicit a reaction from a viewer. In this shot of a surfer during a storm, he’s conveying the water’s elemental danger and power.

While the above exhibits the power of the sea, in the image below Gary captures how the exact same spot is placid and tranquil at a different time.

The power of art

I especially appreciate that Gary uses his art in support of the environment. We first met on a hike at Montauk’s lighthouse sponsored by Concerned Citizens of Montauk (CCOM) the environmental organization on whose board I serve. Gary graciously allowed us to use his photos from that event for CCOM’s website and to grace the walls of the CCOM office.

Gary’s work gives me a sense of peace and serenity at the beauty of Montauk’s natural land and waterscapes. It also heightens my awareness of how precious the natural world is to me – both for itself and for its beauty.

Such awareness does so much to strengthen our resolve to protect it.