Lee S. Nelson - Photographs. 40 years of image making.

Photographs

"Literal description, or the illusion of literal description, is what the tools and materials of still photography do better than any other graphic medium...There is nothing as mysterious as a fact clearly described." - Garry Winogrand (click for full quote)

I have been a photographer for over forty years. Through my photographs, I have been compiling a visual record of popular culture from the end of the 20^th century to the beginning of the 21^st century. I did not set out with this in mind but quite often what catches my eye will include advertising or some other aspect of modern culture and society. I also get distracted by things that are bright, beautiful, strange, or pink.

Portfolios

Thirty Six Views

Democratic National Convention

Random Thoughts

The Promised Land

Here and There

Aloha 1987

So Cal!

Home Town

Monochromes

I was born in Oakland, CA right in the middle of the “Baby Boom” years.
I came of age as Beats morphed into Hippies. The Summer Of Love, Rock and Roll, Free Speech, the Vietnam War, Women's Liberation, and Civil Rights dominated my consciousness.
In High School I was a yearbook photographer and a Teacher’s Assistant for Photography, I had discovered photography in my Grandfather's darkroom.
At 18 I began studies at the San Francisco Art Institute where I received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography in 1977. While at SFAI I was fortunate to study with John Collier, Linda Connor, Henry Wessel Jr., Reagan Louie, Margery Mann, Pirkle Jones, James Broughton, Tom Holland, Richard Graf, Ivan Majdrakoff, Ray Mondini, William Whitman, Frank Oppenheimer and too many other incredible artist/teachers to list here.
When at SFAI I was able to support myself repairing hand cameras. After graduating from SFAI I also graduated to installing and servicing large graphic arts cameras, processors and all manner of photographic equipment for Alpha Photo Products, Inc. based in Oakland.
1983 Co-founded Paragon PhotoTechnical, a technical services company providing support to the Graphic Arts, Printing, and Photograhic industries throughout the west.
2008 Created Full Gamut Consulting, an independent Color Management Consulting company. Over 30 years my day job morphed from service technician to independent color management consultant. I currently assist Brand Owners, Advertising Agencies, Printers, Graphic Designers, as well as photographers and artists to achieve accurate, consistent color from design through final display. I utilize many of the same tools and processes in my own work. I take great pride in my past darkroom work as well as in my current digital printing.
I continue to live in Oakland with my brilliant wife of over 30 years. We have two incredible daughters.
1977 Graduate of the San Francisco Art Institute, with a BFA Photography
2018 Smith Anderson North Gallery San Anselmo, CA “PhotoAlliance-Bay Area Currents” (Group) August 29th-September 29th, 2018
2016 Dada Gallery San Francisco, CA “Americana Pop” (Group) December 26th, 2016 through February 7th, 2017
2015 PHOTO Gallery Oakland, CA “California!” (Group) October 15-November 14, 2015
2015 San Francisco Camerawork “Heat” Annual Juried Show, (Group) July 23- August 22, 2015
2014 PHOTO Gallery Oakland, CA “Sense of Place”, (Group)
2014 PHOTO Gallery Oakland, CA “Upon Reflection” curated by Stephen Wirtz (Group)
2013 ABC Napa, CA selections from “Thirty-Six Views of Mt. Lee and the Hollywood Sign”
2013 Bay Area Photographer’s Collective “One Shot” Member’s Show
1985 MoMing Gallery Chicago, IL (2 person show of work from 1984 Democratic National Convention in San Francisco)
1984 San Francisco Camerawork 10th Anniversary Juried Show
You will not find my work in any major museums or in any significant collections. If that changes I will note it here. You can find my work in the following publications.
2019 Float Photo Magazine portfolio section www.floatmagazine.us
2019 Fraction Magazine May 2019 11th Anniversary issue www.fractionmagazine.com