Thursday, September 25, 2008

Local Artist Spotlight: Frank Lopez

By Laura Seewoester

Frank Lopez

Merry-go-round, State Fair of Texas, pinhole image 2007

As a high school student, Frank Lopez wasn't necessarily someone you would peg as the “artistic type.” He was a football player with plans to take over the family auto business. After an injury kept him from continuing to play ball he picked up a camera, taught himself some basics and started shooting. His post high school plans, however, were still with the family business (insert plug).

A year out of high school Lopez decided to further his education at East Texas State University and went back to photography. Here, Lopez's interest in pinhole cameras blossomed after taking an abstract experimental class. Lopez connected with the ephemeral quality a pinhole image produces.

“Our perception of reality does not exist in fractions of moments it exists in memories and the way that I kind of see pinhole photography is as a distant memory or a familiar dream, something that as memories we think about the action that has occurred,” Lopez said. “It becomes fuzzier and a little less precise.”

Pinhole imagery is Lopez's photographic medium of choice, however he has moved passed the homemade pinhole cameras and uses a regular manufactured model that takes film. One challenge with a pinhole camera, however, is the time involved in setting up a single frame. It generally requires longer exposures and a tripod to create one image. This drew Lopez to the old 1960's Diana camera, which produces a similar dreamy image as the pinhole but allows him to take quick snapshots and create more of a visual diary.

Despite Lopez's use of old cameras and techniques, this is the 21st century and Lopez is by no means stuck in the dark ages. Lopez uses a regular digital SLR for commercial work (hey, unless Warren Buffett is a close relative or really really feels sorry for you, the bills don't pay themselves).

“I really see digital photography as a moneymaking tool,” he said. “I do use my digital camera for just about any job that requires a quick turnaround and that I do not consider personal, but everything I want to shoot for myself personally I do shoot exclusively with film and either a pinhole or a Diana camera.”

Lopez has been teaching off and on since he graduated East Texas State University in 1990, first at an art school for a few years and then back at his alma mater while teaching numerous workshops in historical printmaking over the years. Then about four years ago a friend asked him to put together a workshop for her teen aged daughter and her daughter's friends. Lopez had such a good experience that he decided to get back into education. He built up his resume subbing for other photography teachers and ended up getting a job teaching photography at Greenhill School. The biggest lesson his students have taught him is the rediscovery of discovery.

“We become jaded as professionals at times, and when you discover something new it just really cranks the gears and makes things go and the day that much better,” he said. “To see the process in action and to see the discovery and to experience the pleasure of personal growth, it's just phenomenal. It's very refreshing and it keeps me feeling young.”

Currently Lopez's work from his series on Fair Park is hanging at Grace United Methodist Church through Sunday, ending with a reception. He also has a few images in the 26th Annual Art in the Metroplex exhibit at TCU's J.M Moudy Exhibition Hall through October.

Related stories

• Pegasus News Week in View: Mountains’ majesty edition (Sept. 25, 2008)

See more stories in:

• Arts > Fine Arts > Photography Exhibits
• Photography

Comments

alexander troup Verified

The beginning and the ending of a season,and with the opening of the State Fair of Texas and some of its southwest art and more art to be seen,which I enjoy of the artist Lopez,s whos pinhole camera affect catches the character of the fair and the 2008 fair event with Big Tex and Big Tut on the side of the fair, which is an Arts District event having king Tut in Dallas, anyho, Lopez,s affect with pinhole photography is pretty damn good and so this should be one good event to follow up with, while is the fair unfair this year, one will have to wait and see as they find the piggey bank at home missing, until then enjoy the corn dogs and bottled water, for that is all i can afford at the fair this year, despite Ike and Wallstreet, I hope everyone will have a good time, Alexander Troup, Historian.

1 year, 1 month ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Travis Bush Verified

That has to be the longest sentence I have ever seen..

1 year, 1 month ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

alexander troup Verified

As for t.v braille, It was T. Rex. ......,I will try shorter Mexcian Restaraunts. ALEX TROUP. R.

1 year, 1 month ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )