Gordan Hardcastle
190 N 50 W
Rupert, Idaho 83350
gordan@pmt.org



Past Displays of Note:
The exhibition at the IFAC Carr Gallery concluded on May 3, 2006.  For a visual summary of what took place go here: Shutter Fever .

Upcoming Displays of My Work:
My next scheduled exhibition will be at the Herrett Center on the Twin Falls CSI campus in the summer of 2009.
Check back for other 2008 exhibit information.


My photographs are currently displayed in several locations in Idaho:
MiniCassia Visitor’s Center in Burley, Idaho
National Pioneer Hall of Fame in Burley, Idaho
Castle Rocks State Park Visitor’s Center
City of Rocks National Reserve Visitor’s Center
The Amalgamated Sugar Co. Office near Paul, Idaho
The Amalgamated Sugar Corporate Office Boise, Idaho
In many private homes in Idaho and throughout the western states.


Artist Statement
I had my first experience with photography when I was about 10 years old.  I found a small box camera someone had lost in a canyon.  I finished using the film and delivered it to a local drug store for processing.  My pictures were not spectacular but the experience opened up a new world for me.

Great photographs are to be found nearly everywhere, but not all of them are apparent at first glance.  A lot of my photographs come from exploring the outdoors, sometimes no further away than my own backyard.  I find it enjoyable to go exploring with a camera, not knowing ahead of time what I may find.  A lot of amazing colors, shapes and textures are just waiting to be photographed.  

My mind has been captivated by what can be done with digital photography.  There are many traditional photography techniques including using filters, long exposures, contact prints, and different film types.  I often ask myself, "How can I do this same sort of thing with a digital camera or a scanner?"  I've found that by experimenting I can duplicate many of these traditional methods.
 
After taking a photograph, my next step is to make corrections for color balance and contrast.  I find that these corrections are necessary to render the true essence of what it felt like when I took the picture.  After the corrections are finished I make an initial test print.  The use of a printer is an important part of my process.  At printing time I make final adjustments then let the print sit for a few days before I look at it again.  If I am then satisfied with how the photograph looks, I consider it a finished work.  Otherwise I will try again, even retaking the photograph if necessary.  My goal is to make the most of what I initially captured.  I feel that my photographs are most successful when they show not only what was there at the moment but also what it felt like when I was there. 

Viewers’ responses to my photograph are often surprising and many times come from their personal experiences.  For this reason I enjoy hearing their reactions and hope to continue to display my work in public galleries.  I will also continue to experiment with techniques to capture great photographs.

Creative Photographic Methods:
The following is a partial list of the methods I use create my photographs:
1.Regular photographic processes such as dodging and burning.
2.Digital infrared photography.
3.Panoramas from multiple photographs laid side by side.
4.Use of a digital scanner (arranging objects on top of the scanner).
5.Overlays (two photographs laid on top of each other).
6.Long exposure or illuminating objects with small flash light.
Often I will combine methods such as overlaying both an infrared and a regular photograph of the same subject

Exhibit Proposals
I have a large selection of work available for display and there are a number of different exhibit options:
1. PHOTOGRAPHIC FEVER: A general exhibit showing a variety of my work.
2. IDAHO MARCHING MAN: A series of time lapse, multiple exposure black & white photographs.
3.VIEW FROM THE TOP: Photographs from Mt. Harrison and Cache Peak
4. JUST ONE DOLLAR: Still lifes created by photographing objects purchased from dollar stores and second hand stores.
5. CASTLE ROCKS: Photographs from Castle Rock State Park.
6. A TALE OF TWO COUNTIES: Photographs from Minidoka and Cassia Counties with GPS coordinates of where they were taken.
7. VIEW FROM THE CHAIR: This series is based on a chair that I carried around all year and photographed in different scenic locations.
8. INVISIBLE LIGHT VISIBLE: A series of infrared photographs.
9. MY CAMERA IS FLAT: A series if images created by using a flat bed scanner instead of a camera.
10. WALCOTT: Photographs from Walcott State Park and the surrounding area.