Black, White and Nude - Part One

Nude 35, Standing

© 2009

Larry Torno

Negative space – it's often overlooked as a primary means of creating compositions. In this case, the black background areas come together to mold and shape the white female form within. Instead of the subject taking the emphasis in the image, the negative space holds the important role of containing and defining the model inside the photo.

Nude 35, Standing is available as a limited edition print through the Bruno David Gallery.

Overhead Projections - Part Four

Jaws
©2009
Larry Torno

On December 27, 2009, I posted a series of photos taken in the same location, but over a course of several years, with dramatically different views. In the three images presented here, I wanted to show again, how going back to a certain location time after time, often yields new opportunities for photos.
     The first image, Jaws, is actually a rest station/shelter that overlooks a naturally growing prairie in St. Louis County. There's a bicycle path that runs past the shelter and alongside a two-lane road.
     The second image, Midwest Cliché #4/Ride with Traffic (posted 9/6/2009), was shot about 100 yards from the shelter and interestingly enough, the third photo, Midwest Cliché #3/Roadside Attraction (posted 8/30/1999), can be found about 50 yards in the opposite direction.
     I like the location and I like finding inspiration each time I go back.

Jaws is available as a limited edition print through the Bruno David Gallery.

Overhead Projections - Part Three

Planet Yin Yang

©2009

Larry Torno

The St. Louis Science Center has an observatory tower called the Planetarium. It was designed by Gyo Obata, founding partner of HOK Architects. My very first job, after graduating from college, was as a graphic designer for HOK.

     I have always been fascinated by the simple, unique shape of the Planetarium. The shadows constantly change as the sun moves throughout the year and on this cold, January day, the structure practically disappeared in the bright light. The remaining light gray silhouette defined the edge of the building and created an angular slash across the image.

     Although the clouds that day were interesting, I dropped these wispy clouds into the photo for a more dramatic look. Cropped this way, the black sky and white Planetarium ends up looking like the Chinese Yin Yang symbol. 

Planet Yin Yang is available as a limited edition print through the Bruno David Gallery.

Botanica - Part Two

Esther's Lilies
2006
© Larry Torno

These calla lilies were taken from a bouquet at the wake of my wife's stepmother. They portray the quiet beauty of the woman and the sadness of her early death. 

Botanica - Part One

Spiral Aloe
2005
© Larry Torno

I've always liked finding shapes and forms in natural elements. There's a certain inherent simplicity and beauty to be seen in the things that surround us. 

     In this case, an aloe plant integrates its natural growth into flowing spiral designs, with soft, patterned stalks and contrasting white, spiked edges.

  

Sign of the Cross - Part Eight

Resurrection

@2007

Larry Torno

Real cross, real clouds; saw it and waited for the right balance of composition.

     I like the sweeping curve of the roof line against the angular direction of the clouds. It so happened that the sky was divided between black and white, with just enough black to form the perfect background for the white cross. 

     Throughout the years 2005-2007, I concentrated heavily on photographing crosses as the inspiration for my art. I continue to find instances of symbolic imagery and will be posting more on the blog in the future. 

Sign of the Cross - Part Seven

Laclede and Boyle
© 2007
Larry Torno

A curator for an exhibition once described my crosses as "accidental observations" and said that it didn't matter whether the crosses were real or imagined, what mattered was that I took notice and did something about them.

Location, Location, Location

Sometimes I'm drawn to the same location time after time to see what I can find. One of my favorite places to stop by is the parking lot of a local community center. It's a large open area and the architecture of the buildings amuses and interests me.
     I didn't set out to create three separate images within several feet of each other, it just happened that way. It took several visits to see the opportunity and explore it with imagination but I like the way I keep finding something new to shoot.
    Starting with the most recent and working back, it's easy to see the progression of abstraction in the elements.

Overhead Projections — Part Two

Spaceship

©2009

Larry Torno

Famous-Barr was a department store in St. Louis, MO that opened in 1948 as a beautiful example of architectural modernism . . . its facade and interior following the curved shape of the street it occupies. In the mid-90s, Washington University took over ownership of the building and now refers to it as part of their West Campus.
     I've always been fascinated by the building's simplified, graceful lines and recently spent some time looking for photo opportunities. My favorite image was this one, shot looking upward with the oversized eave and single, square window looking like a menacing UFO hovering over the city.

Overhead Projections — Part One

Macys Tower
©2009
Larry Torno


I like creating images of real elements that, when taken out of context, have a completely different interpretation.
     This image of the dome of a Macy's store reminded me of the Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming. I carefully cropped it to have the same visual effect as the rising tower, which was popularized in the movie Close Encounters. The positioning of the tower in the lower left-hand corner against the expanse of the massive cloud bank, lends a feeling of the wide open spaces found in the Great American West. Shot from the parking lot of a Midwest shopping mall, Macys Tower bears little resemblance to its urban setting.
     A little known historical fact about the Wyoming monument is that when the proclamation establishing Devils Tower was published, the apostrophe was unintentionally dropped from "Devil's" — and this clerical error was never officially corrected. It seemed fitting that I should also delete the mark from the title of my image, Macys Tower.

Macys Tower is available in a limited edition through the Bruno David Gallery.