Landscape Photography by H.D. Hasselbarth Displayed in South Florida Museum in Bradenton

BEDFORD, NH, August 16, 2012

The fine-art exhibition entitled, 'Walk Far, Look Deeply' begins on September 14, 2012 at the South Florida Museum in Bradenton, Florida and features work of prominent photographer, H.D. Hasselbarth.

"I'm very pleased to be included in this exhibition at the South Florida Museum. It is one of the oldest area museums, opening in 1947. They have a great legacy of presenting the natural history of Florida and preserving the natural wildlife. The second floor gallery is a perfect venue to display photographs of the natural environments found in Florida. So it is an honor to be included in this curated photography exhibit," states Hasselbarth.

Organized by the South Florida Museum, the 'Walk Far, Look Deeply' exhibition features photographic work by local and international artists. The exhibition runs from September 14, 2012 - January 6, 2013. The opening reception coincides with the museum's 65th anniversary.

Hasselbarth's piece entitled, 'A Bend in the Road,' is a digital photograph of a stand of trees in Myakka State Park. Serene and majestic, the colors vibrate between the sun and sky and glimmer in the reflection of the Myakka River as it bends along its course.

The exhibition is a celebration of the natural beauty found throughout Florida. From the Spanish moss-covered oaks to the sandy beaches along the Gulf of Mexico, these photographs capture the essence of the local environment. An artist statement is included for each piece displayed.

Hasselbarth's digital photography brings a soft, tranquil aspect to landscape photography. It is no surprise that her affection for the Hudson River School of painting is reflected in her photos. Through peaceful composition, full of detail and incredible imagery, Hasselbarth shows you both the why and wherefore of finding, chasing, and expressing your vision with the camera. Vision leads to passion, and passion is a cornerstone of meaningful photography. With it, photographs draw the eye in and create an emotional experience. Without it, a photograph is often unable to capture a viewer's attention.

Hasselbarth's work has been characterized as reminiscent of Henri Cartier-Bresson's photojournalist style. Yet, she is uncomfortable with comparisons. She focuses on her own intentions and concentrates on capturing the intimate details of a scene. She shoots thousands of photos and then meticulously edits each piece for the final product. Her photographs seem to capture unfolding events and allow the viewer to invent their own story. They are a combination of journalistic illustration with touches of social commentary. She has the eye to see the potential for a strong picture and then organize the elements into an effective photograph. They are ephemeral and often a patchwork of vignettes pieced together.

'I enjoy using the technical aspects of digital photography to produce abstract artwork," Hasselbarth admits. "I like minimalism. I love photographs full of negative space; but the commercial work I do has to conform to the client's vision. So being in an exhibition is a good way to realize my creative vision."

Recently, Hasselbarth published a compilation of photographs of France as part of a one-person exhibition with the Alliance Francaise de Sarasota. The book, 'A Day Without Cares,' is available on http://www.blurb.com/user/store/ax4u, and explores life along the Seine River and rural France through cultural photography.

"The book originally started out as a catalog for the exhibition at Alliance Francaise," says Hasselbarth. "But I am very pleased at its acceptance and popularity. I never figured that a photography book would be viable, except in certain circles. There is even an e-book edition out now."

Both contemplative and inspirational, 'A Day Without Cares' inspires you on your photographic journey to make better images of the places and people you love, whether they are around the world or in your own backyard. Hasselbarth demonstrates how to tell stories, and provides commentaries on the photographs in English and French. Most importantly, she shows that vision, when it comes to photographing people, places, and cultures, fills the frame with intimacy.

Hasselbarth was born in Richmond, Virginia; and moved to Florida with her family during her college years. She received a bachelor's degree from the University of South Florida and also studied photography at Ringling College of Art and Design. Her work is displayed in galleries in New Hampshire, Florida, California and New York. She is selected by Ulrich Goette Himmelblau for inclusion in 'Who's Who in Visual Arts - 100 Photographers' for 2011-2012. Currently, her work is distributed through aX4u Fotos and can be viewed on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/aX4u.fotos.

South Florida Museum is located at 201 10th Street West, Bradenton, FL. It is a planetarium, aquarium and natural history museum. The museum is open 10am - 5pm from Tuesday to Saturday; and noon to 5 pm on Sunday. For more information, please visit http://www.southfloridamuseum.org.