Bio

Al Neyman Bio I have studied art and architecture at the Pennsylvania State University. Inspiration for photography came while participating in urban studies in Philadelphia. The group required photo-documentation for its study, the Mantua Primer, which was later published by the Public Health Service. It is still available on line or at https://www.dropbox.com/s/9g0sfp5hm4grc2w/Mantua%20Primer.pdf?dl=0 During that time the Philadelphia Department of Education hired me to document their special projects for the annual report. A show at the college of some 14 prints followed that, so the photo documentation grew into something more popular in the world of photography. Though there was immense excitement that year for the photographs, and after long discussions, architecture remained the primary focus. The camera became more a means of artistic endeavor, but architectural design seemed to be a more focused disciplined for me. The photography experience continued to grow as well, managing a photogrammetry project for a county in Pennsylvania county, using large format stereo film cameras. The photo negatives were reconstituted to become dimensionally accurate underlays for property mapping. In interior architecture, decorative photosets were sometimes required for commercial clients. In a National Historic Landmark building, I convinced the occupants to produce a 16’X5’ photo mural – using an 19th century photo of the street - in their primary commercial setting. Photographing architecture, a specialty itself, was always needed, primarily a documentation process. But the sophistication required for architectural photography meant using professional photographers for the best and final portfolio shots. The time spent with with them was valuable. I finally closed the architectural business at the end of 2019. In the years leading up to that, I had become immersed in photography, more like I had been before starting and running an architectural practice. The results of this re-engagement over the past few years have been rewarding, with over fifty pictures in gallery shows, some show winners and sales among them. Leaping to the next level, for me, means getting recognized for the photography. I intend to do more gallery shows, maintain an internet web presence alneyman.com and ultimately produce a “web show”.