Interview
James Morris
James Morris has been a photographer for over four decades. Since moving to the high desert in 2000, he has worked in his home studio in Redmond, Oregon.
Trying to market his photographs, James joined the Dry Canyon Arts Association (DCAA) in Redmond, Oregon and took part in First Friday Art Walk events. During his first show, he sold three prints and several greeting cards. Because of his skills in web design, he was quickly offered a position on the Board of Directors with the DCAA, where he still sits today.
James looks forward to continuing his craft of developing creative looks to manipulate his photographs into fine art pieces. He wants his work to evoke emotion in the viewer.
An interesting tidbit about his work is that he’s hidden a small Sasquatch in each of his landscapes. Whether it’s a walking Bigfoot or a hidden face, it’s in there—though you may need a magnifying glass to find it.
James is looking forward to opening his own gallery in the future, where he can display his works and those of other artists in his community.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“My childhood was nothing special. One day when I was ten years old, I discovered my dad’s old Polaroid camera. It unlocked my creativity, and photography became a big part of my childhood. My first photography class wasn’t until high school, where I learned how to use a camera and develop my own film. My involvement in the school newspaper as a photographer soon followed. Several years later, I finally purchased my first professional-grade camera—a 35mm Nikon. During the weekends, I would take road trips throughout California, taking pictures of tourist attractions and anything else I found interesting.
In the 1990s, I suddenly found myself unemployed as a married father to a four-month-old son. To make ends meet, I sold my camera. I’d have to wait a decade before I could purchase another one. The scenery, landscapes, and natural beauty of Central Oregon were too much for me, so I bought a basic camera with essential accessories.
After observing other photographers, I realized I wasn’t as good with a camera as I’d hoped. So I went back to the drawing board and learned new skills in lighting, film speed, and how an aperture can make or break a photo. I sat at my computer for over a year, redesigning my old photographs, trying to revive them. I was like the Dr. Frankenstein of photography. One day, I stepped back to look at my work and I knew I had done it.
My work was colorful, had motion, and felt exactly how I had envisioned it. It had transformed from simple pictures into fine art photographs that anyone would be proud to hang on their walls. I knew I was ready to share my work with the world.”
What inspires you?
“I’m inspired by nature. I often look out over landscapes, forests, and mountains and wonder what it must have been like to be the first to discover the natural beauty of the world we live in.
Beyond that, I’m inspired by everything. Just look around and you’ll see the beauty all around you; simply open your eyes and your mind.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
"I don’t necessarily stick to any particular theme. I can take a thousand pictures and see only one that is worth pursuing to make into a work of art. But I can look at those same images five years later and find more that I feel are worthy.
Ultimately, I would say that my theme is beauty. Whatever catches my eye is what I will use in my work.”
How would you describe your work?
“I call my style Fine Art Photography, meaning that it’s photography that is taken to the next level to make it a work of art. I manipulate the photograph in post-processing to give it a look almost like an oil painting. It has taken several years for me to perfect this style.
I’ve received compliments beyond my wildest dreams, such as hearing my work described as Van Gogh-like. But no matter how many compliments I receive, there’s still a hole in my heart filled with regret that my mom couldn’t witness my fine art creations. She passed away in 2018, but my artwork is infused with her spirit.”
Which artists influence you most?
“Ansel Adams’ work is why I became a photographer. I also love the landscapes and black-and-whites of Yosemite, particularly the way his photographs elicit emotion in the viewer. It’s something I’ve always pursued in my work, only in a different style.
What is your creative process like?
“The first thing is always the location—the subject. Whether a landscape, cityscape, or rivers and waterfalls, it all starts with a main subject. While this is my primary focus, I always look around for anything that catches my eye. When I’m at a location, I’ll capture hundreds of photographs, knowing only a handful of them will make the cut.
I take the photographs that make the cut to post-processing, where I perform my magic. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn’t. I have some pieces that took years to get to the point where I finally felt it was ready for ‘prime time’.”
“Through the use of several filters and color settings, I give my photographs a distinct look I call Life.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“Nowadays, it can be difficult to find something that will make you feel happy. So my role as an artist is to give the viewer this sense of happiness. I want them to hang my work in a location where they can sit and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee, and forget about the negativity in the world.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“At one show where I exhibited, a woman approached my work and began to cry. One of my art pieces immediately made her remember her late husband. She felt so attached to the piece that she gave me a great big hug and thanked me for creating it. She purchased the print and said it was going to hang on the wall, behind the chair where her husband would always have his morning coffee.
It’s stories like this that keep me going, making each piece better than the one before. I want people to feel happy when they view my work. That’s what brings me joy.”
