The Photoworks of Blake Stenning

I have always been a very visual person, and from my earliest days observed the natural world around me with wonderment and fascination. Shapes and patterns engage my eyes, and my mind then gives order to these forms, creating new compositions. For me, photography is an inherent extension of how I see, and it enables me to capture and reproduce what I have envisioned.

But it is not just the visual aspect of photography that inspires me — mastering the mechanical functions of the camera itself has also been a passion of mine. Whether it is with a cheap plastic toy camera or a technologically advanced digital SLR, each device offers a unique set of challenges that must be understood in order to capture a precise recording of an image, as well as a particular aesthetic.

However, it is not the equipment, the process, or even the physical hardships I may face when making a photograph that are of consequence. Rather, what matters is whether the finished image tells a story, makes a connection, or inspires. That is what compels me to make photographs, and it is this that I aim to achieve every time I press the shutter.

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During the day, I am a professional graphic designer and co-founder of the design firm, Pittny Creative, located in the Washington, DC area.

In addition to the works featured on this site, further images of mine can be found on my Flickr photostream: flickr.com/photos/blakestenning