Member - Kathryn A. Brown |
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HAVE CAMERA, WILL TRAVEL As the new Rachel M Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center was preparing for its debut last fall, photographer Kathryn A. Brown was there to capture its dramatic ambience. She was hired to photograph its expansive auditorium seating and elegant stage for use in promoting the new cultural center. Kathryn's large-format photography of architectural volume and detail is a valuable resource not only for organizations' publicity efforts such as the Schlesinger Center's, but also for architects, interior designers, and commercial contractors involved in building construction-- they typically need large-format photographs of their work for their own company brochures and portfolios. From early on Kathryn was interested in the art of photography. While enrolled in the Arts program at Penn State in the '70s she pursued classes in, among other things, architecture--hence, her propensity to use architecture as a subject matter. After relocating to Virginia and working a few years as a drafter for an architectural firm in Alexandria, Kathryn embarked on her journey as a freelance location photographer. Kathryn calls herself a location photographer not because she shoots locations, but because she shoots on location, as opposed to shooting in a studio. Not encumbered by lots of heavy equipment and strobes, she arrives on location to photograph whatever her client's needs are in the least obtrusive manner. It could be a photographic accounting of the architecture or capturing the telling moment of a special event. Much of Kathryn's employment comes from photographing special events such as weddings, award ceremonies, and business receptions. "And of course," Kathryn remarks, "there are always the 'grip and grin' shots that businesses and associations typically need." One significant business special event that Kathryn covered was a ground-breaking multimillion-dollar government auction attended by large cable and telecommunications companies. The assignment netted Kathryn a big payoff, with many of the participating companies wanting prints from the event. One of the founding members of the Del Ray Artisans, Kathryn has been instrumental in organizing DRA's Gallery Without Walls program so that artists can showcase their work in local businesses like Primary Properties, Barnes & Noble Bookstore, and Waterford PR. She also serves on the Alexandria Arts Forum and gathers monthly with local professional photographers. A very active lady, Kathryn finds that this networking is instrumental because all of her business depends on word-of-mouth. "You need to get out there and meet people in the business world," says Kathryn. "Simply advertising in the Yellow Pages didn't work for me--I got solicitors, not customers." Calling her career a 'vocation' Kathryn takes busman's holidays documenting her personal travels across the country and in southern Germany and Tuscany through photography. She regularly exhibits her photographs in shows at the Del Ray Artisans, as well as at several other art spaces in the area, including the Packard Center in Annandale, the Torpedo Factory, and the Art Barn Gallery in Washington, DC. Her fascination with photographing neon tubular lighting has revealed itself in more than a few shows. Visitors who wander to the back hall of the DRA gallery will spot her witty neon explanation of the facilities--'Vulcan' and 'Sophia' are truly unique.
Unauthorized use of images is
prohibited without artisans written expressed permission.
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