Howard And His Work
Like many who started photographing prior to the digital age, my 12-year-old eyes opened wide when I first saw a picture magically appear on a blank piece of paper submerged in developer solution. Some childhood fascinations quickly pass, but this one did not. As I grew older, the concept of creating a still image, permanently freezing time, that could allow someone to feel emotions—my emotions—became a driving force.
I was born and raised in Northern New Jersey, in an area that was, and still is, a reflection of New York City. I was a ‘city boy,’ who never felt particularly comfortable in the big city. As an introvert, my personal peace was found in nature, but not in the iconic locations; those were too crowded and too far away from where I lived. I found peace in small local natural areas.
I find myself particularly drawn to the mysterious and mystical aspects of the natural world. When out in nature making photographs, I enter a peaceful and meditative state. It is my hope that those who view my work feel a sense of quiet introspection and see the beauty that surrounds us every day, wherever they might live.
I offer my prints for sale in the hope that I can share these feelings with you.
Fun Facts:
If you are looking for a formal artist’s CV and my Artist’s Statement, keep scrolling, but if not, here are a few fun facts about me:
• Even though I hate the cold, I live (with my wife and Sydney, the cat) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where the winters aren’t exactly mild. My kids are grown and live in New York City (don’t they always go back to where you tried to escape from?).
• I could survive on a desert island with just pizza to eat.
• I grow orchids under fluorescent lights.
• I was an interventional cardiologist for over thirty years.
Artist’s Statement
I am an abstract artist whose work encompasses both painting and photography. Deeply influenced by a lifelong interest in the natural sciences, my art attempts to reconcile the apparent chaos of our environment with the quiet order that lies just beneath its surface. Drawn to the subtle gestures of the natural world that often go unnoticed – nuances of light, shadow, texture, and color – I strive to elevate the ordinary into something contemplative. I invite the viewer to slow down, look again, and find beauty in the overlooked.
Abstraction allows me to distill sensory experiences into compositions that are not bound by literal representation but instead suggest a mood or a memory. My intent is to create work that speaks to the meditative qualities of nature. Each piece begins with an observation or emotional impulse and develops through an intuitive process of layering, editing, and refinement.
For me, photography and painting serve as complementary avenues of expression. Moving between these two media allows me to explore ideas from multiple viewpoints, with each medium informing and enriching the other.
Ultimately, my work is an invitation to be present, to notice what lies just beyond our daily distractions, to imagine what exists beyond our perception, and to discover the beauty that’s often hidden in plain sight. It is in this noticing and mindful attention that I believe we find not just aesthetic pleasure, but a more profound sense of connection and meaning.
Curriculum Vitae
Exhibitions:
The Empathy Project – Latrobe Hospital, Latrobe, PA, and Frick Hospital, Mount Pleasant, PA.
Two permanent audiovisual exhibits of patient portraits with audio to allow viewers to hear each person's story.
The Empathy Project was featured in a segment on NPR and was reviewed by the Arthur J Gold Foundation.
Group Exhibitions:
Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Pittsburgh, PA
Silver Eye Center for Photography, Pittsburgh, PA
The Center for Fine Art Photography, Fort Collins, Colorado
be Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA
The Hering Gallery, Rochester, MN
Photo Place Gallery, Middlebury, VT
Framesmith Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA
Manchester Craftsman’s Guild, Pittsburgh, PA
Additional Locations Where Work Has Appeared:
Red Shell Records – Album Cover for Luthiern Lullabies by the British band Book of Birds.
Spokane International Airport
Cardthartic Greeting Cards
Charlotte News and Observer newspaper
Pittsburgh Public Library
Shutterbug
Allegheny General Hospital
Westmoreland Hospital
Latrobe Hospital
Frick Hospital
Publications:
FRAMES Magazine – Writes monthly photography/art-related articles 2021 - Present.
LensWork – Published photographs in the LensWork book series:
Seeing in Sixes 2019.
Our Magnificent Planet 2020.
Legacy 2024
Black & White Magazine – Received multiple “Single Image Contest” Awards.
Photographs published in 2010, 2011, 2013, 2018, and 2023.
Black & White Magazine – “Portfolio Contest” Awards.
Portfolios published in 2018 and 2024.
Color Magazine – Received “Single Image Contest” Award.
Photograph published 2011.
Nature Photographer Magazine – Published article and photographs:
The Twin Jewels of Western Pennsylvania 2008.
Whisper In the Woods Nature Journal
Published photographs in Readers Showcase 2007.
Digital Outback Photo – Published article and photographs:
Photography and Truth 2007
The 37th Frame – Published article and photographs:
An Unconventional Recommendation 2005
Orchids Magazine – Published article and photographs:
Orchids Under Lights 2001.
Teaching Experience:
Organized and led an Oregon Coast Photography Workshop 2017.
Guest Lecturer - Manistee Camera Club, Manistee, Michigan
Art and Health 2022.
Guest Lecturer - Manistee Camera Club, Manistee, Michigan
From Photograph To Mixed Media Artwork 2024.
Guest Lecturer - Manistee Camera Club, Manistee, Michigan
Multiple Exposure Abstracts 2025.