Sunset over Yosemite Valley with Horsetail Fall
Original photograph signed and numbered by Michael Frye
Chromogenic pigment photograph
Mounted and overmatted with 4-ply archival museum board
Multiple image sizes available (see Print Information)
About the Artist
Michael Frye's photographs show a restless creativity in depicting the world of nature, with subject matter ranging from wildlife, to the landscapes of Yosemite Valley, to boldly colorful nighttime images of the American West.
"My 30-year-old dictionary defines photography as “The art or process of producing images of objects upon a photosensitive surface (as film in a camera) by the chemical action of light or other radiant energy.” I’m not sure about “producing images of objects.” I tell students that we don’t photograph objects, we photograph the light reflected off of objects. A great subject with poor light will make a poor photograph; an ordinary subject with great light can make a great photograph.
But I like the part about “radiant energy.” Although I’m sure Webster’s didn’t mean it this way, I think the radiant energy comes mostly from the photographer, or from the interaction between the photographer and his or her subject.
The photographs on this web site encompass two distinct bodies of work, each using very different kinds of light. One group of images was made during the day, using all the wonderful forms and textures of sunlight. The other group was made at night, combining electronic flash and flashlights (often covered with colored filters) with the dim light of the moon and stars. Although the subject matter is similar, the look and feel of the images is very different. I try to use my main tool—light—to create a mood, whether the mood is lyrical, playful, or mysterious. " ~Michael Frye
Michael Frye is a professional photographer specializing in landscapes and nature. He has written numerous magazine articles on the art and technique of photography, and is the author and photographer of The Photographer's Guide to Yosemite and Yosemite Meditations. He was also featured in the book Landscape: The World's Top Photographers. His photographs have been published in over thirty countries around the world; magazine credits include National Wildlife, Outdoor Photographer, American Photo, Sunset, and Texas Highways. Michael lives with his wife Claudia and son Kevin in Mariposa, California, just outside Yosemite National Park. Michael has lived either in or near Yosemite since 1983.
