PhotoForum Member Portfolio, May 2023

Jonathan Bourla, Highwic House, April 2023

(Click on thumbnails to enlarge).

My fine art photography is a process of several stages. The aim is to produce my personal interpretation of the scene before the camera, reflecting how the scene and lighting made me feel at the time. My initial inspiration came from the works and teachings of Ansel Adams, but have been most heavily influenced by the photographs of another American photographer, Howard Bond. I attended a workshop run by Bond in Ann Arbor, Michigan learning heaps and coming away with a book’s worth of Howard’s notes and articles to go over at home.

I emigrated from the UK to New Zealand at the beginning of 1993. The following year, with encouragement from my Kiwi wife, I decided to pursue my photography with determination. As I said, I learnt Adams’ Zone System, and acquiring a large format field view camera, learnt how to use it. In 2007 I held my first exhibition, with several following in subsequent years. I look forward to where things will go from here.

To contact Jonathan or see more of his work go to www.jonathanbourla.co.nz

Read an article about Jonathan from Aotearoa Artist here.