Edward Alfano

Huntington Gardens XLIV - Black and White Photography of Palms and Plants

2017

Edward Alfano is a contemporary photographer working in Southern California. Alfano photographs all across the world, his most photographed regions are China, Italy and Huntington Gardens in San Marino. In his photographs of Huntington Gardens, one can see the influence his early university education in biology and plant anatomy had on him as a budding artist. He focused on plant anatomy and ultrastructure as a graduate student, where he learned how to use infrared film, which remained his choice of medium for the remainder of his career. Alfano’s work eludes categorization, while his subject matter is either landscape, architecture or monuments, Alfano’s use of technology, unique perspectives and innovative compositions removes him from the traditional style of photography of such objects and firmly positions his style among the pioneers of surrealism. Alfano utilizes both archaic and modern technology in his practice. Alfano begins by shooting in infrared film, he then develops the film in a traditional darkroom and scans it to produce a digital print of the image.