John Romie thinks big. The photographs of John Romie are large and very detailed. Viewers often mistake the intricate detail in his images for etchings or scratchboard art. But looking closely at his pictures reveals information and features that only a photograph could contain. Living in California with its diverse landscapes and environments provides him with endless opportunities for pursuing landscape and nature photography. A hike with his camera in the hills near his home, or during travels throughout the state, are favorite adventures. A geologist by education and training, John worked for 37 years in environmental siting and restoration, in the roles of geologist, geologic modeling specialist, construction project manager, and others. His work predominantly took place in the West but included other North American locations as well as Dammam and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. John’s interest in photography stems much from his love of the outdoors. He gains greatest satisfaction from capturing natural landscapes - particularly landforms, trees and vegetation, and the interaction of water with the land. He prefers monochrome imaging methods as a means of adding his own emotion and artistic flair via texture, tone, and composition. Use of panoramic, infrared, and stereo techniques further enhances his ability to portray his own vision of the landscape. "Photography is music to my eyes. That describes my love of photography well. The lyrics and melodies in music provoke a myriad of emotions: calmness, happiness, fear, passion, inspiration, and beauty to name just a few. I listen to different genres of music depending on my mood, but often it is meant to calm me, inspire me, and make me happy. I enjoy photography for the same reasons. I lean towards more serene and calming landscapes that evoke feelings of peacefulness and serenity. Trees and swampland forests have been favored subjects for this very reason. I enjoy their gracefulness, the dendritic nature of their branches, and the glorious light that makes its way through their canopies. I prefer black and white as, like instrumental music, it is an abstract form - it allows me to offer my own artistic interpretation of the scene, and it gives the viewer an opportunity to do the same. “ – John Romie John presently serves as a docent and member of the Workshop and Curatorial Committees for Viewpoint Photographic Art Center in Sacramento. Barlow Gallery is proud to feature John Romie’s work in our new galleries.