Bio

Jeff Schewe has been an award-winning photographer in Chicago for over 30 years. He is accomplished in tabletop, location, portraiture and particularly accomplished in computer imaging. Jeff shoots a variety of subject matter and likes to control as much of the production as possible. He does this by making his own models, designing, and building his own sets, painting backgrounds and employing computer imaging. He has been doing his own imaging for almost 20 years in house on his high-end Macintosh systems. As an indication of his skills and knowledge of fine art printing, he has been named an Epson Stylus Pro. He is a past Apple Master of the Medium and has been inducted into the Photoshop Hall of Fame (2006). He has written two seminal books on digital imaging and printing; The Digital Negative and The Digital Print, published by Peachpit Press. While retired from active commercial work, he continues to write occasional articles and teach workshops. He has recently turned his focus to fine art photography and has been successful in being included in a variety of national and international fine art photography shows. Education: Illinois State University 1973-1974: Art Major Rochester Institute of Technology 1975-1977: Associate degree with Honors in Photographic Arts Rochester Institute of Technology 1978-1979: Bachelor of Science with Highest Honors in Professional Photography Artist Statement: My journey into photography began as a refuge from the frustrations of painting, where my lack of drawing skills became evident. In photography, I discovered a medium that offered spontaneity and a unique freshness that painting couldn't provide. Despite this shift, I have retained my deep-seated passion for light, color, and composition, originally nurtured through my early experiences with painting. Today, I approach photography with a painterly sensitivity, shaping my vision and perspective through the lens. I’m drawn to photographing a diverse range of subjects, always striving to capture a distinctive viewpoint. Whether I'm exploring familiar surroundings or traveling to new places, my camera is a constant companion, ready to seize upon the moments and scenes that inspire me. While my photographic journey began in the traditional darkroom, I now work by using a computer to digitally manipulate my images. The allure of total power and control over my images that digital imaging allows is so seductive that I now no longer maintain a darkroom. Despite the digital manipulation, I strive to work in a totally photo-realistic manner. I don’t use AI to create the pixels in my images.