SUSAN VON DETTEN
Artist Statement

I have always had a background in art; painting, drawing and other creative processes. When I got my first camera, I fell in love with photography. My philosophy on photography is best described by Henri Cartier-Bresson’s “the decisive moment.” It is here that we find the hidden meaning below the surface of everyday life. And from this my passion for photography was born.

Originally I began with a focus on children’s photography. As I began to discover the nuances in a subject’s face, I ventured into street photography. Being self-taught, a great deal of my education in photography has been in traveling the world. I connect well with people and thrive on chance meetings. I have collections and series of different cultures, people and places. Exhibitions have taken place in the Los Angeles area and across the U.S. in galleries, restaurants, cafes and shops.

Having done a lot of photojournalistic and documentary work, I have an extensive background in black and white. I tone many of my photos in sepia because it gives a timeless feeling – once again alluding to my passion of capturing a fleeting second of life as it goes by and freezing it on paper. As a skilled darkroom printer, I experience the reward of taking my image from start to finish.

Currently I work a lot in digital photography, and am fascinated with this whole new arena. It has taken me deeper into the magical world of capturing life and freezing it on paper for generations to come.