James Willette
Visual Analysis
Professional Artist
In a visually dominated world over saturated with visual stimuli emerges the photographic work
of Mitch Dobrowner of Long Island, New York. Primarily a landscape photographer his work ,although
seemingly simplistic, has a much deeper mastery of craft and skillfully demonstrates his knowledge of
the formal elements of art. His 2009 image of a texas storm titled Trees – Cloud, texline, exemplifies
the way in which he communicates with his camera and the landscape to generate an interest visually
with the ancient land.
Dobrowner digitally captures the American southwest with a delicate yet stark viewpoint. His
unique style draws some influence from photography masters such as Ansel Adams and Minor White.
Particularly his use of dramatic lighting and his use of wide contrast from white to black within the
landscape. Perhaps the most interesting element of his work however is his style of composition.
Dobrowner uses a minimalistic approach to how he includes the land in this scene. His choice to
include minimal land in the photo coupled with timing of weather conditions shift the focus and
emphasis off the land and into the sky. Chiefly meaning the atmospheric conditions begin to play a
large role in how the landscape is viewed. In this case the small sliver of land draws the viewer in and
gives the scene an anchor point in reference to scale. Viewing the land in this manner takes the interest
of the viewer off the land momentarily and places it in to the sky/ atmosphere. Which is to say the
atmosphere is just as important to the composition of landscape art as the land itself.
The Landscape of the American south west is one filled with a tremendous sense of adventure
and wonder. Dobrowner views the land with a sense of reverence and respect, focusing on it's beauty
often depicting surreal views of landscapes with dramatic atmospheric perspective. Photographically
Mitch Dobrowner invests in the belief that his art is derived from being at the right place at the right
time, which can be simplified to a matter of time vs. weather conditions vs. the landscape itself.
Works Cited
Adams, Ansel, and Andrea Gray. Stillman. The American Wilderness. Boston: Little,
Brown, 1990. Print.
"Interview with Mitch Dobrowner." Interview by LensWork. LensWork Nov. 2008.
Print. This LensWork audio interview with Mitch Dobrowner appeared in
LensWork Extended #79 along with his portfolio, Unworldly Landscapes.
Mitch Dobrowner Photography. Web. 9 Feb. 2011.
<[Link]
Stawiarz, Marcin. "Interview with Mitch Dobrowner." Neutral Density Magazine
2010. Web. 9 Feb. 2011. <[Link]
[Link]/mitchdobrowner/[Link]>.
Wiggett, Darwin. "Photographer of the Month – Mitch Dobrowner « Interview."
Darwin Wiggett. 13 Dec. 2010. Web. 14 Feb. 2011.
<[Link]
month-mitch-dobrowner/>.