Maxine Helfman is one of those photographers who can do everything: fashion, beauty, commercial and fine art, and never lose her distinctive focus or style in the various arenas. I have been a long time fan of her various portrait projects, most that tend to challenge perspectives on social issues. Today’s post features a quiet project of portraits and still lifes, where if you listen carefully, you can hear the crickets and the sound of the old screen door at it slams behind you on the way out to the porch laden with sweating glasses of lemonade.  It a project about summer and beauty and nature. Maxine will have an exhibition of this work at wallspace gallery from September 2 – October 26th.

Maxine is self taught, late bloomer, after spending years as a prop/set stylist and photo art director, the only way to truly realize her vision was to get behind the camera.  She has since been shooting commerically for advertising and editorial clients, while persuing personal projects.  Her work has been recognized by PX3, IPA, Foto DC, Flash Forward Boston, Critical Mass, British Journal of Photography, Photonews, as well as the permanent collection of Santa Barbara Museum of Art and the Museum of Fine Arts.

Summertime

In the series, Summertime, I wanted to capture the beauty, emotion and mystery of summer in the South.  Drawing my inspiration from literary descriptives, the images are timeless and familiar.  Despite a hard life of physical labor labor and povery, it is the strength, dignity and physical beauty that I want to portray in my work.