G.B. Smith's book, PATHWAYS takes the viewer through a journey of each image, using light to illuminate patterns and distilling the subject down to its uncluttered form. This innovative approach transcends a wide range of subjects and genres and reflects his traditional photographic heritage of plate cameras and exclusively black-and-white imagery. The joy of his imagery is in fact deeply embedded in his ability to present the canvas in its essential form. His images bring solace to our psyche constantly overwhelmed by the overstimulation of color, and they encourage us to appreciate the essence of the subject in a new and releasing way. Out of less comes more in this gorgeously produced volume. PATHWAYS is also a metaphor for the photographer's personal artistic journey that began almost fifty years ago as a teenager and has taken a somewhat circuitous route, coming back full circle to embrace his original photographic passions. The book features selected works from several of G.B. Smith's current collections, including many of his more recent award-winning images. All of the author's proceeds are being donated to The Breast Cancer Alliance charity.
Born in the industrial heartland of England, G. B. Smith began his photographic passage almost fifty years ago as a teenager in apprenticeship of traditional film techniques in both the darkroom and with large-plate cameras. The simplicity and deliberateness of his images today reflect the mindfulness of traditional approach, manifested in modern digital technology. Given his industrial heritage, many of G.B. Smith's studies gravitate toward decaying man-made structures and the appreciation of their form, together with their interaction with the regenerative power of nature. Similarly, his image of modern architecture celebrates the architect's intent, stripped down to form and purpose. G. B. Smith's early enthusiasm in photography, matched by his interest in emerging communication technologies and entrepreneurship, led him down a path of discovery and exploration in countries and cultures throughout the world. His ability to understand context and distill things down to their essence has also made him highly successful in his other persona as a technology and business leader, becoming one of the longest serving public company CEOs in the USA. A truly a global citizen, having lived on multiple continents and worked extensively in six, he now resides in suburban Maryland, USA, and combines extensive global travel with a rekindled passion for Fine Art photography. In a business career that has been devoted to helping create the digital world, PATHWAYs was driven by the desire to create something altogether more "physical" in recognition of his photographic heritage. That has culminated in the publication of this his first book, intended also as a vehicle to raise money for the Breast Cancer Alliance charity. Smith has received international recognition for his innovative imagery across a broad spectrum of eclectic subjects and genres. His photographs have been featured in a wide range of media, including many leading Fine Art and photography magazines. He has won multiple prestigious awards and accolades. Recent recognitions include three consecutive Gold Medals in architecture, Fine Art and Nature categories at the Prix de la Photographie awards in Paris; Discovery photographer of the year; first prize in the International ND awards for Architecture; winner of multiple categories and "Best of the Best" award at the International Architecture Masterprize awards; and multiple category winner for Fine Art and Architecture at both the New York and London Photography Awards.
Through the innovative imagery of internationally acclaimed photographer G. B. Smith, Pathways features selected works from many of G. B. Smith's current collections including several of his more recent multi-award winning images, representing the broad spectrum of his eclectic subjects and genres, but always reflecting the simplicity and uncluttered form of his distinctive style. With a foreword by Lawton W. Fitt, Former Secretary of The Royal Academy of Arts, London.
