Lynda Lester
'Succulent, and other works'
25th July-11th August 2014

Defense is necessary for survival.  Every living thing in our world has some way of protecting itself.  And with good reason.  For behind those defenses lies the part that is most true, beautiful, and vulnerable.

Cacti and succulents are experts at self-defense.  With sharp edges and prickly spines, they guard their precious interiors from the harsh world around them.  But when we move in close, what secrets hide between the needles and thorns?

Lynda Lester, 'Succulent - Toxic'

By taking an intimate look at these plants, we may also see ourselves.  I believe that the deep emotions revealed in these photographs – tranquility, amusement, rage and sensuality – are also hiding beneath our own defenses.

In this series, I employ digital techniques to emulate the classic look of black and white film.  Natural light, shallow focus, intense contrast, and unconventional cropping create abstract images that evoke an individual, emotional response in the mind of the viewer.

To create these works, I had to drop my defenses, crafting each image with a specific thought, feeling, or memory in mind.  You may not see what I see, or feel what I feel.  But if you lower your own defenses, you might find something hidden within yourself.

Lynda Lester, 'Succulent III'

Lynda Lester - photographer info

With her camera, Lynda Lester factors the natural world down to its bare, intricate essentials, producing black and white abstract images that capture hidden perspectives and unconscious emotions. 

Lynda’s photographs have been featured in numerous exhibitions in galleries and museums across the USA and around the world, including the Consulate of France in Los Angeles, CA; Mulvane Art Museum in Topeka, KS; Witte Museum in San Antonio, TX; Gallery 825 in Los Angeles, CA; Gallery Ann in Seoul, South Korea and Club Curitibano in Curitiba, Brazil.  Her work has earned a number of professional awards.  She was honored in the 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2008 Black and White Spider Awards, receiving overall 15 nominations, Second Place and Honorable Mention in the Abstract category, and Second Place in the Nature category. 

Lynda Lester, 'Dunes, California'

In 2006-2007, Lynda and her photography were featured in a Nikon camera commercial airing throughout Europe.  The commercial showed her in action, capturing photographs in the field, as well as spotlighting some of her abstract photos.  Her work has also been published in several calendars, books and posters featuring award-winning photographers.

She studied commercial photography at the prestigious Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, CA, where she received a faculty award in her first year, and her diploma in 2003. 

Lynda credits her background in music and dance with inspiring much of her photography.  She was born in Dallas, Texas, and currently resides in Wellington, New Zealand.

Photo: Lynda Lester