Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dwight Hiscano. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Dwight, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
There are several. I’ve done a lot of work with water – waves, reflections, details, etc. I have a collection of night shots of LED lights reflected on the surface of the Delaware River that I did about 12-13 years ago. The images are different, something I hadn’t seen before. But they’re dark. It was a dark and depressing time in my life. My wife and I suffered the loss of several family members within a couple of years and I took it pretty badly. I was in desperate need of a distraction. Not long after that I noticed the LED’s while on assignment in Camden, NJ. The Ben Franklin Bridge, which stretches between Camden and Philadelphia, is adorned with the colorful lights that are programmed to change colors and blink on and off every hour. The lights were new at the time and the way they played on the waves of the river was beautiful. They’re tiny lights, hundreds of them, and each LED produced a very fine line on the surface of the water. The lines seemed to dance on top of the waves, and the resulting images suggest nerves and synapses in the brain. They’re not the most uplifting images but they’re unusual, intriguing. And the series helped me through a very difficult time, even though it meant spending hours, late at night, alone, on the Camden waterfront. Not the safest place to be after midnight.
I’ve also begun a new series of trees in snow, photographed with a drone, from directly above. They’re generally more appealing, and different, and weird and beautiful. And they offer a new look at an ancient, much beloved subject. I imagined the series several years ago, before I bought the drone. But when the conditions were right, and I finally began shooting, the resulting images weren’t quite what I had envisioned. I was surprised at what I discovered. They’re trees, but from an entirely different perspective. Using snow as a white backdrop, they’ve been removed from their usual context. The familiar characteristics are there – power, femininity, masculinity, symmetry and balance- but from an entirely new angle. And some of the images bear a striking resemblance to the veins and arteries of the Human respiratory system, a fitting reminder of the importance of trees and their role in absorbing carbon and producing oxygen. Trees are the “lungs of the Earth,” and we Humans need to be reminded of that.
Dwight, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I’ve been interested in photography since I was a child. My older brother, (now a videographer), was always shooting stills when we were kids. He had a darkroom in the basement and I was amazed by the printing process and inspired by his images. I think that’s where my love for the art form began. When I was a little older (14), I suffered an eye accident that left me hospitalized for a week, flat on my back, with both eyes patched, essentially blind. All of my other senses took over – my sense of touch, of smell, and, especially, my hearing. Despite the pain and discomfort, it was a wonderful, life-changing experience. When I finally left the hospital with my vision intact (in one eye at least; the other is a bit blurry), I think I saw the world differently. Colors seemed more vivid, details seemed to stand out more, and the world, especially the natural environment seemed more alive. I’m certain the experience had an effect on the way I see things. I find order in the seemingly chaotic. I see details that others miss. and the beauty of the outside world moves me like music. I’m sure most visual artists can relate to this. We see differently. And that sets us apart.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
Don’t ever get comfortable and don’t ever coast. It’s easy to get into a routine, going through the motions of creating what is expected of you and selling it to a certain audience. In my case, I was selling prints through corporate art dealers and galleries, and doing fine with it. I had regular freelance work that I relied on to balance creative work when sales were slow. Then I was hit by a perfect storm: the Recession, the Iphone, and the advent of digital photography. The Recession was bad enough – my freelance clients cut their budgets and most of the dealers that were consistently selling my work went out of business or retired. And the massive embrace of digital photography made it easier for more photographers to enter the field. They didn’t need to learn about light, or traditional printing, or the mechanics involved with the SLR. That green “Auto” setting was enough. There was more room for mistakes and those mistakes could be easily corrected in Photoshop. Along with that technology came the cheaters, those who “build” images in Photoshop just to please an audience and garner more “likes.” I wouldn’t mind it as much if they admitted that the images are fake, but many of them don’t; they pass their work off as if it’s right out of the camera and a lot of people fall for it. Of course, there are a lot of very talented people who have also joined the ranks, who may not have otherwise, making the profession much more competitive. On top of all that is the iphone, and all the camera phones that followed. Now, everyone’s a photographer and the medium – as a profession and as an art form, has changed dramatically. Photography wasn’t a popular profession when I started in the 80’s, and good photography was a rarity, reserved for museums, high-end galleries, and coffee table books. Now photography is everywhere, good and bad. And it’s more challenging to create images that stand out.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The act of creating something unusual or unique is immensely rewarding, especially if it appeals to, or has an impact on others. I try not to create images for the viewer; that would distort my approach to the work. But if others enjoy the work, or are moved by it like I am, then all the better. If they’re willing to pay for it and hang it in their living room or office, then that’s an added bonus. Same if it helps a charity or brings attention to an issue that needs to be addressed (I’ve dedicated a good part of my career to environmental causes). If someone is moved by a piece, moved to donate, to sign a petition, or if the image changes their mood and has a positive effect, then I’ve succeeded beyond just creating a pretty or unusual photograph. I did several exhibits at a local hospital back in the 90’s. Once, while taking a show down, a woman stopped me and asked if the photos were mine. When I told her they were, she replied, “Thank you! My father just had a lung removed and this is all I have to look forward to.” That really hit me. It’s nice selling a print and knowing someone will live with it and treasure it. It’s nice to support a cause and have a positive impact. That’s a great feeling. But if the work can affect someone’s mood like that, preferably in a positive way, that’s another level entirely.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dwighthiscano.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwight_hiscano
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dwighthiscanophoto
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dwight-hiscano
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/dwighthiscano
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/@dwighthiscano
- Other: email: [email protected]
Image Credits
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