Fine Art nominee

Daily, we are exposed to a wide range of colors from pastels to the very vivid. These colors are present in everyday life across a broad range of subjects from landscapes to flowers and everything in between.

Switching to black & white film, I eliminated the distraction of color. This allowed me to interact with the subjects by focusing on textures, shapes, forms, staging plus the application of light creating expressive floral studies.

For this series, I maintained the white pedal detail against the rich black background by carefully managing the tonal range.

It is said that flowers are a true reflection of how people who give them feel. My feelings are expressed through the selection of the flower and creating the image. My varied life experiences, including being a member of the LGBTQ+ community and now living as a transgender woman, opened my mind to new perspectives influencing my artistic vision.

I often receive the following feedback on my unique floral studies:
• Questioning whether the images were a painting or graphite.
• Expressing the sensual appeal of the studies.
• Comparing my studies to Mapplethorpe and O'Keefe.

For each image, five handcrafted silver gelatin prints are available.

Contemporary fine art photographer Dale M Reid took charge of her destiny by making a commitment to herself and her life partner and soulmate.

Reid’s belief in herself has allowed her to chart a new course in life as a full-time professional artist and transgender woman. As Dale transitioned through her new life journey, she developed technical skills, questioned convention, trusted her instincts, and with her passion, was able to craft a distinctive artistic voice. Her artwork ranges from classical to sensual to erotic and engages the viewer to question what they see.

Owning who we are, respecting and trusting our character, and engaging people has allowed Dale to be accepted as a respected woman and professional artist.

In this digitalized world of pop art photography, Dale's unique traditional monochromatic images contain elements of being a painting or graphite. The lack of color allows the viewer to focus on the variety of textures and the richness of interesting lines and shapes that engage in an elegant, visual synthesis in each photograph.

Today, her artwork is primarily created in the studio where she imbues botanical subjects with unimaginable personality and emotion.