Artist Profile
I was born and raised in rural Southwest New Mexico. My backyard was an 800 acre wildlife refuge, being homeschooled this was also my classroom. My parents cultivated in me and my three siblings a deep appreciation for the outdoors and inspired my love of literature, engaging and challenging my vivid imagination. My childhood was spent outside exploring with my younger brother; one of my earliest memories is collecting arrowheads less than a mile from my home with him.
My appreciation of the arts didn't start until later in life, however I was always attracted to the light and composition of sunsets and unusual weather patterns. One of my favorite and lifelong pass times has been to watch the array of unending colors a sunset has to offer and the occasional sunrise after an all-nighter; however those memories are less vivid.
When I purchased my first camera I returned to my roots and used reading as a means of instructing myself in photography. I fully immersed myself in capturing the world around me, there was little that didn't interest me. I instinctively developed a strong taste for landscape photography, but as I grow as a photographer I am continually pushing myself to explore new genres...my nieces are a new favorite.
I have since traveled to Alaska and captured some of the most awe inspiring landscapes, wildlife, and natural wonders; there natural world has to offer. It was in Alaska that I discovered that no matter what object I am photographing I can make it reflect a piece of myself.
I'm currently residing in my home town of Silver City, New Mexico. I hope that my photography can continue to improve and develop where I grew up.
For me, my greatest satisfaction has been to capture the world around me and share it with those I care about. My hope is that those that view my photography will come to know the places I have seen and captured and possibly come to know a little something about me; Silas Fallstich the photographer, writer, book worm, and jabberwocky artisan.
A Brief Excerpt About My Work:
My titles are often obscure and misleading. They tend to be a reflection of the moment that I captured the image, my emotions within that moment, and the landscape or object being captured. Sometimes I feel like my titles are out of tune with the emotion or energy within an image, however, the titles are a reflection of how I came to capture the image rather than a reflection of the composition within the image.
Themes play a huge role in my work. Most of the themes were established through no conscious effort, more from a composition standpoint. For instance the lines a train track creates has always caught my attention. Yet, I have never set out and said, "Today I'm going to capture some train tracks." I believe the most challenging thing to do in photography is to assess what the natural world is providing for you, on any given day, and make that suit your photography.
I don't like to put a direct interpretation on my work because I'm usually overly critical, also I believe I can never replicate how you're feeling or what experiences you bring to your interpretation. I want my work to be open for personal interpretation. When you look at my images create them for yourself, rename them, create your own moment within each image. My main hope is that my images will create in others a desire to not only see the paces I've seen but also to help preserve these wonderful places.
A friend of mine once asked me, "When did you get into photography?" At the time I didn't have an answer but upon great reflection I have concluded the following.
"I never got into photography. Photography has been and always be a part of me. My desire to capture the world around me is ceaseless. When I un-clip my lens cap and put my eye to my camera there is a tingling in my fingers and an excitement that wells up in me that cannot be conveyed verbally. Without photography I would not be Silas."
