Scott Chieffo Retrospective

Many who live on the Mendonoma coast see the subject matter for Scott Chieffo’s photographs on an almost daily basis, but his pictures never grow stale because they capture those scenes in a dramatic, uniquely painterly way that arrests one’s attention and presents them through a different lens.

Scott goes into the field without a preconceived notion of what he wants. He allows the setting and the light to dictate his composition. He says, “When things go well, I literally enter a meditative state of mind which allows me to create images that communicate the subtle beauty aroused by my surroundings.”

Not only does he capture hidden details using a skillful mastery of lenses, f-stops, and other tools in the photographer’s field arsenal, but once he has captured an image he uses the latest “digital darkroom” techniques to unlock an emotional response so the final product can be enjoyed with increased pleasure for many years, rather than have just an initial impact.

For this exhibit, Scott will be showing both previously created images and new images, displayed in a larger and completely different format than he ever has in the past. The work will be presented on metallic surfaces. Dyes are infused into a specially-coated aluminum surface, resulting in a “frameless” print that appears to float off the wall with outstanding image clarity and vibrancy.

His first 35mm SLR camera was a college graduation present that triggered his latent talent and provided a way to explore further the natural world he studied when obtaining a degree in Environmental Biology. Born in Southern California, Scott has spent the last twelve years living on the Mendocino coast his photographs depict so well.

You can view Scott’s work on his website, www.schieffophotography.com. The virtual gallery provides numerous examples of his expertise in capturing an ephemeral moment in a lasting image. His work can also be found at the Dolphin Gallery in Gualala, the Artist’s Collective in Elk, and in various regional venues.