Dan Shepherd - LENSCRATCH

Dan Shepherd by Aline SmithsonJuly 3, 2012

I’m always happy when good things happen to good people and Dan Shepherd is at the top of that list. Dan recently opened a solo exhibition, Blinded by Science, at the DNJ Gallery in Santa Monica, running through July 21st. His large, beautiful and layered prints are at once painterly and rich with photographic textures and concepts. Dan is a vital force in the Los Angeles photography community, extending his good will and good sense to pursuits such as The Open Show series which brings the Los Angeles photography community together to share work on a regular basis and is a founding member of the f/9 Photography Collective.

Raised in the Pacific Northwest, Dan spent a number of creative years in New York City and now lives and works in Los Angeles. He navigates between the visual arts and working for conservation organizations. Dan has a Masters in Environmental Science from Columbia University and an International Diploma in Plant Conservation from the Royal Botanic Garden, Kew in England, as well as a BA in Japanese from the University of Oregon. He has been well published and exhibited.

BLINDED BY SCIENCE: Some say ignorance is bliss. As a former botanical professional, a walk through a garden can be a challenge to just enjoy the colors, shapes and textures when your brain is clouded with lots of scientific plant details. With the ongoing project Blinded by Science, I am using the power of abstraction to create images of plants and trees from some of my favorite locations which helps me filter out the science details and lets me focus on the pure beauty of nature.

Our interaction with the natural world has been an ongoing thread to my life. This theme continues to weave in and out of both my professional and artistic endeavors. My path to photography comes from a love of drawing & painting combined with a conceptual approach to science and nature.