McNeney

I’ve written here about photography several times over the last few years. I was fortunate enough to study the art under Richard Mizdal. Richard introduced me to surrealism. We spent hours analyzing the works of Les Krims, Jerry Uelsmann, Duane Michaels and Diane Arbus. If a picture was worth a thousand words, the works of these people were ineffable. Words just can’t do it when the masterpieces of these photographers are displayed.

A few years ago I stumbled upon a neo-surrealist that to me is par with the greats that I mentioned above. Her name is Mary-Anne McNeney and she lives in Victoria, British Columbia. I subscribed to her Flickr feed long ago and I get excited every time she puts up a new piece. I immediately click on the thumbnail and drink in the beauty of the composition. I use the word composition carefully because it is composition that separates Flickr snapshots from art.

Her topics are wide and varied. She often uses herself as the object of focus. Notice I didn’t say model though she is modelesque, she transcends the limits of what a model can do. She dons masks, she can make time stand still and best of all she can fly. Each photograph usually has an attached text which further extends the the lusciousness of her work because not only can you see the images in her mind, but you get a taste of dialogue with the images. The Photos and text together are like individual blog posts. Even if a particular shot doesn't strike you, open it up and read the text and suddenly it all comes together.

Mary-Anne's work is smart, funny, sexy, and most of all flawless. I am stunned by the variety in her compositions. I also know what it is like to develop a portfolio like this and it isn't easy. Her body of work needs to be seen by more people and word of her talents needs to be spread through the art community.

If you want to see some beautiful work, please visit Mary Anne at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/maryannemc/
.