Anthony Zeh – 100 Artist Portraits

I like to tell a story with my work, professional photographer Anthony Zeh says as we’re wrapping up the afternoon. He shows me a few images from his portfolio including this one below.  It’s a family portrait…

… never boring, he notes.

Portrait of a family in their kitchen

---

I meet Anthony Zeh on Tuesday evening. Thursday afternoon he’s in my studio taking photos.

…Tuesday we attend the same artist lecture at the ASU art museum.  Carolyn Lavender introduces us.  Jon Haddock is also at the lecture. Tony wants to know if I’m working in my studio these days, and if so … might you be available for a photo-shoot …Thursday?

Thursday? Day after tomorrow?

Carolyn and Jon, both having already been photographed, suggest I take the opportunity. Also, I learn while Tony is in the studio, Joan Prior mentioned my name to him a few weeks earlier.

….all feels like kismet to me.

Artist John Armstrong

I’d noticed the artists portraits showing up on Facebook for some time now.  I didn’t know exactly what was going on but I knew something interesting was happening.  Tony began his 100 Artists Portraits in August of 2011. Is this in celebration of our Centennial? I ask. Yes it is, he responds.

Artist Carolyn Lavender

Tony will be showing a running slide presentation of 50 of the portraits for the weekend of Art Detour. And as of now, the plan is to show the completed project at Bragg’s Pie Factory on Grand Ave. in September of 2012.  You don’t have to remember the latter, I’ll remind you.

If all works as planned he’ll have worked on 100 portraits in 12 months time. You do the math.

Artist Jon Haddock

The photos are compact, exciting, and telling. Artist is pictured working, in studio, with materials collaged into the composition. I mention they have a 3-D quality about them. Zeh explains it’s the 3-photo process he uses that brings out the various layers. It’s called HDR, High Dynamic Range.

Arizona is 100 years old. The 100 Artist Portraits series when complete, will document important work, at an important time.  I know many of the artists in the series thus far, but not every single one of them. He’s capturing one brief moment in time. To see the exhibition in its entirety will be valuable, it will represent something I am a part of…the wide range of creativity that is present right here, right now…

Thanks Tony, for capturing the nitty-gritty (truly) of it all…

---

WHAT:  A Portrait: 100 Phoenix Artists (Half Way Show)
WHO:   Anthony Zeh
WHERE:  Arizona Center, 400 Phoenix, AZ 85004 – Across from New York & Company
WHEN: ART DETOUR March 17th and 18th

Plan to check out the photos yourself. Let Anthony Zeh share some of his work and some of his process with you.

For more info or to contact Anthony Zeh visit his website.
Click on each photo to go to artists website.