About the Artist
The Artist's History
Rebecca Golding is mostly a self-taught photographer who took her first pictures at age seven. She is no stranger to art as she took many art classes while growing up. These included art history, line drawing, pencil, pastel, and pottery, as well as music and dance lessons. When in high school, she took black-and-white photography courses to learn the basics of film development and printing. The rest is personal experience and a good eye for perspective, composition, and color.
Rebecca was raised in Texas and took many family vacations around Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado. She grew to love the southwest and its diversity of terrain. Throughout those travels she learned to look at and record nature in its own light. This means that she likes to use the natural lighting available at the moment and not to bring in artificial light or reflecting boards to enhance an image.
During
high school and college Rebecca took pencil and ink drafting which gave her
insights in perspective of images, presentation, and architecture. The drafting
skills carried over as a way to pay for college. The degree plan was for engineering
but, personal circumstances altered these goals resulting in degrees in math
and business accounting. Photography and art became a hobby as life presented
the need for a career path. But her love of the southwest took her to a job
near the Four Corners (joining of NM, CO, UT, and AZ). In 1984 Rebecca entered
photographs in a company contest and won top prizes with the photos being published
in the corporate magazine.
She
moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, and began researching local Native American
art. The many black line and geometric shapes drawn on pottery inspired her
to pick up the drafting tools of pen and ink again. She began drawing free-style
abstract geometric images. She also started making ink drawings of pot chards
as she imagined they might look if found as an artifact. Many of these works
were exhibited in a gallery in Albuquerque’s old town area and sold at
private showings.
Living in Albuquerque presented many opportunities for photography, especially
the yearly International Balloon Fiesta. She joined with some balloon pilots
and took pictures while crewing for the balls of color floating through the
skies. While crewing for balloonists, she met Robert and they soon married.
Their joint love for traveling the back roads has taken them to the diverse
countryside’s of the southwest and beyond.
Through these travels in the southwest and other areas of the USA, she has taken pictures of many different landscapes, nature, architecture, and people.
Personal Notes on Inspiration
I can not say that a particular artist has inspired me more than another. I grew up learning about the old master painters and found that my talents did not lie there. I take photographs to capture the moment and also to share what I see, the way I see it, with others. I especially like taking nature pictures that when viewed might transport me or others to that place or time.
You will also see in some of my pictures of animals and people that I enjoy a since of whimsy or humor in my work. It is nice to have things around that make you smile and chuckle to yourself.
Equipment and Tools
I have shot most of my works with 35mm film. I have used other types of film and slides in earlier years, but 35mm was the easiest to process and print. Recently I have also been using digital.
I am not listing all the camera types and lenses that I have used through the years; the list would be too long. I feel that the end results are what is important and the photographer should use the equipment that they are comfortable with and that gives the results they want. If you like the picture and it “speaks to you,” then purchase it and admire it often. Life should be filled with pleasures not details.
Some of the prints will be from digitalized 35mm negatives.
Memberships
The Center for Fine Art Photography
Northern New Mexico Fine Arts & Crafts Guild