A Little About What I Do
The word photography means "to draw with light." I think that's a perfect description of what I do. The way that light refracts through translucent surfaces and falls across opaque ones-creating eddies of shadow and washes of light that play across the planes of a subject-fascinates me. I try to imbue my images with an organic, fluid feel, often with a hint of the erotic.
While I shoot an array of images, currently I am enamored with artistic portraits and abstracts. In my portraits, I seek to capture not only my subject's look, but their essence. Whether it's a feel or mood, I want to convey some facet of their character.
For artistic abstracts, I enjoy performing photo manipulation in the darkroom with film or creating abstract images in the studio. Although I am proficient in Photoshop and continually use it to refine my portraiture, I typically prefer creating abstracts sans digital aid. I think I relish the challenge.
Biography
For Anna Rosthal, art has never been a question of "if," but "when." Her eyes light up as she recounts a definitive episode from elementary school, when she chose to forego recess in pursuit of her muse. "I hid under my desk until all the other kids had left and the lights were out. When I was certain I was alone, I emerged to finish a drawing of a willow tree I'd been working on. I didn't want to interrupt the creative flow." That early affinity for art blossomed into an obsession with oil painting and, eventually, photography. That determination, undaunted by expectation or distraction, bloomed into a mature focus she carries to this day.
"I suppose photography is somewhat inherited," says Anna, when asked about her medium. "My mother was an amateur photographer before I was born. She didn't shoot much while I was growing up, but since her retirement, she has become an avid, active photographer." Anna's first camera, aside from the little 110s she took to camp as a child, bore a label with her mother's maiden name. While Anna's collection has grown to include an assortment of cameras-her digital and 4x5 large format being favorites-she still returns to her mother's camera from time to time.
In high school, Anna and her mother attempted to convince her father to convert a closet into a darkroom, but the project never came to fruition. However, upon enrollment in college, Anna capitalized on the opportunity to hone her craft. She signed up for photography classes and logged many hours in the university's studios, exploring technique and experimenting extensively in the darkroom. "One day, in a photography class, someone asked if we considered ourselves artists who use photography as a medium or strictly photographers. I immediately knew that I belong to the former category. I am, first and foremost, an artist."
In 2006, Anna graduated from the University of North Texas with a BA in Philosophy and a minor in Photography. In 2007, she actively pursued professional photo shoots and expanded her portfolio while working for a photo post-production department in a local firm. 2008 is an exciting year for Anna, as she takes on freelance post-production work in addition to an increasing number of personal and commercial shoots. The drive and creative vision of a little girl intent on finishing her willow tree have evolved into the business savvy, work ethic and creative innovation of an artist on the rise.