Doug Benner Macro Photography

Artist's Statement

The digital photography revolution of the past decade has carried me along with it, turning a previously casual hobby into an intensely personal artistic undertaking. Seven or eight years ago I became increasingly captivated by the ability that photography gives us to look at the world through a different set of eyes - with magnifications and depths of field other than our own. It was fascinating to be able to create a different point of focus, remove or adjust color, and (unlike using film) see the results of my imaginings almost instantly. I soon became hooked on the digital technology and fascinated by its artistic possibilities.

Digital photography also gave me the freedom to take an enormous number of really bad photographs very inexpensively. And because I have always been an "n-trials" learner, and have gained so much more wisdom in life through my failures than my successes, this new technology blended nicely into my hard-headed personal learning style.

Occasionally it even allows me to create something that I hope is a decent work of art.

I live in Dover, a small rural community in the south central part of Pennsylvania, along with Peggy (my wife of 35 years), three photography assistants (who when not on assignment are otherwise known as "dogs" - but don't tell them that), and five cats (who occasionally model, but are not really into it).