FARGO — Fargo-based photographer Scott Seiler is well known in the local art scene for his panoramic photographs of the landscapes of North Dakota and Minnesota. His use of lines and geometry is strangely emotive and helps to highlight the personality of the spaces he captures with his camera.
As an artist who loves to meet the community, we seek to take a moment to learn a little more about the artist himself. Meet Scott Seiler.
Q: Are there any artists who motivate you?
A: Ansel Adams, a photographer who took wonderful black and white photos. When I was little, it was probably his paintings that got me excited about photography and what you can do. I’m just amazed at the device they had at the time. Photographers would communicate more about the concept of the dimensions of the piece: the proportions and the composition. The rules of composition have not changed, but the apparatus has changed.
I think some of the early photographers had to do a lot more to get that wonderful shot than we do today. eyes to the subject.
Maya Angelou was an inspiration to me later. I think the delivery of writing is essential. I love hearing him recite his own poetry. There are inflections, pauses, etc. , that have a wonderful impact and the message is delivered more wonderfully and succinctly.
Q: Who are the artists you admire?
A: I think everyone motivates me. With the greatest established artists, I love to see what they have done over the years and how they have grown. With new artists, what intrigues me are the other concepts they propose. They have a story to tell about their art. I like that. I’m not a painter, I can’t paint all my life, so I’m intrigued by the other people who do it. How they can paint freehand, what is their concept, how they climb layers and grow. It’s amazing to me, so I go out to absorb as much as I can. Every day I go out to be informed about anything new about art. I only go out to keep my eyes open.
Q: What is your favorite form of artistic inspiration?
A: It’s harmful for me to take the car. It’s my time alone and I proceed so much data and it’s very visually appealing. I probably get more artistic when I’m in the car, because it’s clear, the roads are clear, the area is clear, and I can think better. I invent a lot of concepts, so when I get to a position to photograph, I start thinking, “How can I do this any other way?How can I provide this landscape in a different way than other photographers have done before?How can I show the good looks of this landscape?
Q: What do you do when you don’t feel inspired?
A: A martini?It’s a joke! Especially nowadays, other people are flooded with messages and the brain has worked so hard that we just want to have downtime. I think it’s smart to do nothing. Or I can just go for a walk, ride a motorcycle, or take a car ride. Here are some of the things I just don’t have to think about. I spend there constantly, and this downtime allows me to recover, rest, and then pass. back to work.
Q: Is there anything you would like other people to know about your art?
A: The most important thing to know is that each of my images has a story to tell, whether it’s a private story for me, a geographic location in the state, or anything I met by chance. When I communicate with other people about my pieces, they like to initiate a verbal exchange about them. It’s “Why did you do that?” or, “What encouraged you?” And more than not, they have a similar experience in which they count on their side. It’s not just a trigger for verbal exchange, it’s an interaction, to the max an experience of linking shared stories.