J. Starling Photography portraits, family portrats,Fayetteville NC, photographs, senior portraits, baby photos, childrens photography, children's photography

Artist Biography

Jonathan Starling was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina. After college, and several years in management, he decided to pursue his life's dream. In 1991 he received a scholarship to Winona International School of Professional Photography where he studied Portrait Photography. Jonathan has spent the last five years developing his style of fine art photography. His work has been exhibited by the Fayetteville Museum of Art, the Arts Council of Fayetteville and can been seen in various other art venues in the area.

Jonathan is the first Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) from Fayetteville. As an active member of the Professional Photographers of North Carolina (PPNC), Starling has earned an Associate Fellowship Degree. He also served on the Board of Directors for two years. Jonathan has been teaching digital photography in North Carolina and Tennessee over the past years. Through his teaching experience he is soon to be awarded the Craftsman Degree from the Professional Photographers of America.

Jonathan is best known for his outdoor images. He is a pioneer in Digital Photography as well as an instructor for Digital Imaging. Jonathan is also an accomplished Fine Art Photographer and has gone as far as the Ukraine on assignment.

The images that I create are real, believable, and not contrived. Most people say "It's like you are there". Successful images capture a moment, place, or emotion.

My work varies in style and content. I try not to do the same thing twice. I work on location either indoors or out. Each aspect of the portrait is carefully planned so that it looks like it wasn't posed at all. Natural posing and lighting are key elements of my work. My mind set is to create an image that will touch emotions. I want to make an image that will be worth something to someone years later. Since we live in a age of "disposable photography", you can get a photograph almost anywhere that shows what you look like. I strive to go beyond that mindset.

I want my images to say something about the individual. I understand that I am responsible for creating a mood to evoke a feeling in my subjects and also to the viewer. The difference in my work is obvious when you see similar poses that fail to use emotion.

Drawing from artists of the past I have gained insight in cropping from Degas, softness and use of color from Monet, relationships from Mary Cassatt, freedom of expression from Rodin and elegance, grace, and realness from John Singer Sergeant.

I use a variety of techniques ranging from digital imaging to the use of oil paints. My equipment ranges from vintage cameras to state-of-the-art digital cameras. Combining traditional photography and digital imaging allows me to paint with pixels. I can create a piece that looks like a painting or I can make it look like things only dreamed of.