Nature Photographs That Create “A Visual Symphony”
Susanna Patras, susannapatras.art, is an extraordinary artist who creates breathtaking photography. She describes her art as “the pursuit of quiet expression through abstract and minimalist compositions.” She further explains, “Abstract photography serves as a canvas of limitless freedom, allowing me to sing the quiet song of personal expression beyond the constraints of representational imagery. This freedom invites me to explore and create works outside established rules, using my camera much like a painter uses a brush, and Photoshop as my canvas to shape composition and color palette.”
Nature is Susanna’s primary source of her inspiration, and she enjoys imbuing her work “with subtle movements and energies that I aim to translate through experimentation with modern techniques.”
Banner image: Detail of “Fall Memories”, photography/archival pigment print, 18″ x 27″
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. DO NOT REPRODUCE IMAGES WITHOUT THE ARTIST’S PERMISSION.
Beyond Silence, photography, archival pigment print, 18″ x 27″
Susanna frequently employs multiple exposures, light painting, intentional camera movement, and digital painting “to create what I think of as a visual symphony—an immersive experience that beckons viewers to forge deeper connections with the images.” She adds, “In this symphony, each element of light and motion carries emotional resonance and vitality, echoing the power of art to heal.”
Susanna describes her creative process as “a meditative, flow-like state where technical experimentation and intuitive expression merge seamlessly. This balance enables me to transform the camera into a sacred instrument of self-discovery, capturing raw and authentic emotions. I strive to compose images that carry the subtle yet profound echoes of feeling, inviting those who pause to listen into moments of introspection and emotional harmony.”
Bliss, photography, archival pigment print, 27” x 18”
Susanna’s photographic work has been juried into more than 50 national and international exhibitions, such as Art Fluent Gallery, Sasse Museum of Art, N. Tonitza Art Gallery, PH21 Gallery, NYC4PA (New York Center for Photographic Arts), Photo Nostrum – The Mediterranean House of Photography, SNAC – The National Museum of Technology, Marin Society of Artists, Houston Center for Photography, Blank Wall Gallery, Chania Center of Mediterranean Architecture, Praxis Gallery, PhotoPlace Gallery, A. Smith Gallery, and more.
Her photographs were selected for “The Healing Power of Art Inspired by Nature” exhibition in 2024 and “The Healing Power of Color” juried exhibition in 2023. They were presented by The Healing Power of ART & ARTISTS, an initiative of Manhattan Arts International.
Kissed by Light, photography, archival pigment print, 21” x 17”
Susanna informs us, “Rooted in my background in literature with a focus on poetry, my imagery resonates with the spirit of haiku—simple, yet never simplistic because photography can operate with the same distillation of vocabulary. As poet Octavio Paz famously said: ‘I do not see with my eyes: the words are my eyes”.
She continues, “Photography is a metaphor for ‘light’, in which the imagination and the poetic ‘eye’ are largely used to create new worlds. Therefore, light becomes a symbol of ultimate power and strength and a tool for understanding the unseen levels of reality and connections between all things. Metaphorically speaking, an image is created from the darkness of the sensor into the light of its existence, as French poet Paul Valery famously said: ‘what is Plato’s cave, if not an already dark chamber, and the largest ever made?’”
Zen Summer, photography, archival pigment print, 18” x 27”
For Susanna, “Minimalism to me is about distilling the essence of a subject, creating space for subtlety and contemplation within the frame. Through this distilled visual language, I hope to evoke feelings of relaxation, joy, and solace in viewers.”
She emphasizes, “Ultimately, my goal is to offer art that connects to nature and fosters healing through soothing colors and nature-inspired forms. Each photograph aims to be a quiet place of respite, where viewers may find comfort and inspiration. As my artistic journey continues, I seek to deepen this exploration of emotional energy and visual storytelling, evolving my work to further touch the spaces between perception, feeling, and reflection.”
Colors of My Dreams, photography and digital painting, archival pigment print, 27” x 18”
Susanna is a member of the American Photographic Artists (APA) and Visual Artists’ Union in Romania (UAPR-Iasi). Her photographs have been published in Landscape Photography Magazine, Dodho Magazine, Light – A Journal of Photography and Poetry (featured series), Daily Mail Newspaper, Art Ascent – Art & Literature Journal (Distinguished Artist, 2024), and others.
Visit Susanna Patras’s website: susannapatras.art
Thank you so much for your kind words and thoughtful feedback. I am delighted to hear that my photographs resonated with you, particularly in the ways they integrate diverse sources of inspiration, such as poetry. I find that more and more photographers, such as John Paul Caponigro and Laura Valenti, find similarities between poetry and photography. I believe that poetry, in particular, cannot be separated from photographs since they both rely on signs and symbols to define one’s relationship to the outside world. As French poet Paul Valery famously asked: “what is Plato’s cave, if not an already dark chamber, and the largest ever made?”
Thank you again for your kind comments and a lot of success in your own creative journey!
This is WONDERFUL work! As both a serious poet and fine art photographer myself, I was particularly struck by the reference to the synergies blending other sources of inspiration which inform Ms. Patras’s work. I share the aesthetic expansiveness reflected in those references. Please share my congratulations and my appreciation for her work with her.