Art Reception: Local Color: Rik Paul

This exhibition of fine-art nature photography features inspiring landscapes,
fascinating critters, and whimsical moments shot in the Rockland County area.
Rik is a Rockland-based photographer.

Artist's statement

The natural world is constantly changing–from season to season, hour to hour, minute to minute. A scene that fills me with wonder may only last a few seconds. But being ready to “capture” it can involve hours of preparation and, yes, lots of patience. Fine-tuning the image on the computer can then require hours more as I try to recreate the complex allure of that initial scene. Being able to share that magical moment with others, however, makes all of the effort worthwhile.

Photography has been an ongoing passion of mine, and I majored in it at the Philadelphia College of Art before career opportunities took me in the direction of writing and editing. While on the editorial staff of such national publications as the New York Times, Consumer Reports, Motor Trend, and others, I was able to continue honing my photography–through staff assignments, freelance projects, or personal explorations–focusing primarily on travel, adventure, cars, and nature imagery.

I’ve photographed in most U.S. states and more than 25 countries, ranging from Iceland to Borneo. But when the pandemic made traveling more difficult, I refocused my efforts on the Lower Hudson Valley, where I live. I wanted to find the wondrous moments and inspiring beauty in the lakes and parks that are right outside our doors. That’s still my main focus, and all of the photographs in this exhibit were taken in the Rockland County area.

I hope you enjoy my images as much as I enjoyed creating them. –Rik Paul

Website: www.rik-paul.com

Email: rikpaulphotos@gmail.com