Thomas HODGES

About me:

Born in London, England, Thomas has lived and travelled extensively throughout Europe, East and South East Asia. However, he currently resides in the region of Puglia, in Southern Italy, where he also has his studio. Thomas first picked-up a camera around the age of 8, his Father being a keen photographer. He started working in a professional capacity in 1984, shooting freelance editorial, primarily for the fashion industry. However, photography remained very much a secondary profession early 2000, when the onslaught of the digital revolution enticed Thomas to resign from his principal profession as an investment banker, and pursue a full-time career as a photographic artist.

Thomas has a unique artistic style, which he terms "Imaginistic", leaving the onlooker to deduct the ultimate conclusion of what his images portray. In December 2006, Thomas established the Art Movement "Imaginism", to accommodate his own imagery, and in compliment to the poetic movement of the same name.

Nowadays, Thomas works exclusively with the digital medium. However, aside from basic post-processing, and excepting his photo-montage work (which is minimal), his images are captured "pure", within the lens, and with little use of filters or special effects.

Aside from producing collectable photographic art, Thomas has also ventured into the field of interior design, and working in collaboration with numerous designers and interior architects, fusion's his work into furnishings, interior decorations and ladies fashion, using a variety of materials.

Thomas works primarily with natural light, preferring this to the artificial environment of a studio. He excels in the manipulation of light, often working at the extremes of both high-key and low-key photography. His work borders on “experimental”, focusing less on the subject and more on the formal aspects of the image, the light, movement and composition. In particular movement, which give his images an intense atmosphere, masking the formal subject and replacing it with sensuality and suspense. Thomas’ images have been described as “surreal”, “manifesting within a dream” and even as “a gift from heaven ”.

Although Thomas has a varied portfolio of work, he is inspired by female beauty, capturing the sensuality and sexuality of woman, which remains his principal subject matter. His artistic portrayal of "the nude" has now gained international recognition.

Thomas also works to a limited degree as a commercial photographer, with a primary focus on the "art-nude" for catalogue and advertising requirements. He is represented internationally in this field by his agent "MR Production & Distribution", located in Rome, Italy.

In 2006, Thomas was awarded the title of Spider Fellow, having won a prestigious Nominee Award in the Black and White Spider Awards. Thomas was further honoured when he won a further 5 "Nominee Awards" in the 2007 competition. Black and White Spider Awards is "the leading international award honouring excellence in black and white photography". This celebrated event shines a spotlight on the best professional and amateur photographers worldwide and honors the finest images with the "highest achievements in black and white photography". The Awards are juried by the world's most prestigious curators, auctioneers, editors, and dealers of black and white photography, including captains of the industry from Magnum Photos, Leica Gallery, Bonni Benrubi, PDN, Man Ray Trust, LIFE Magazine, Communication Arts, Fratelli Alinari, Tate Gallery and Hamiltons of London.

Thomas also won Nominee Awards in both the 2006 and 2007 Photography Masters Cup. Photography Masters Cup is a global online awards show recognizing excellence in color photography. This celebrated event shines a spotlight on the finest professional and amateur photographers and is presented by International Color Awards. The awards Jury represents the most influential art directors, agencies, editors, galleries, and publishers from the world of photography, advertising and entertainment. Images are nominated and selected by Jury members who honor the finest images "with the highest achievements in color photography".

He is currently working on two publications, both of which are scheduled for 2008. The first being his monograph entitled "Imaginism", which in "Limited Series" form, will incorporate a specially scored music CD, providing the reader with a full sound and vision experience. His other publication is entitled "I Misteri di Venezia", and consists of a series of images shot on location in Venise, Italy, and incorporates Italian poetry, written especially for the book by Thomas' close friend and poet; Massimo Salomoni.

Thomas is planning an extensive exhibition programme, full details of which are yet to be finalised. However, his principal exhibitions will be based around his respective publications, and will include both physical and virtual presentation of works, also incorporating the music and poetry associated to the publications in question.

Thomas’ work is also included in the first volume of "The World's Greatest Black & White Photography", available for purchase in November 2007. Three years in the making, "The World's Greatest Black & White Photography" is the essential group collection of winning and nominated images featuring the best of Black and White Spider Awards. It includes comments and quotes from the photographers and panel members.

Institutional Collection: Thomas has artworks in several private and public collections, including; Davis Polk Wardwell, Sony Corporation, Universal Corporation, Shanghai University, Chi Mei Museum and the Yuyu Yang Digital Art Museum.

Artist’s Statement: My principal focus is on the creation of images which I define as "imaginistic". Be it the beauty of the female form or that of an architectural monument. Such images will leave your imagination to complete the picture. You will see (or not see) as much (or as little) as you so desire. Your own imagination is primarily the key to your own personal interpretation of much of my work.

Below you have just a few samles of my work, but please take the time to visit my official art website: www.photoconception.com and also my commercial website for fashion and beauty photography: www.thomas-hodges.com.

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