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Capturing Unguarded Moments: A Conversation With Photographer Dan Younger

On display now at the Sheldon Art Galleries is “Dan Younger: Travel Places,” a collection of photographs by University of Missouri-St. Louis Art Professor Dan Younger.  

The photographs were taken at U.S. tourist destinations over the span of ten years, the result of Younger’s habit of carrying two cameras – one for his family and one for art. Taken in public spaces, they fall under the category of “street photography.”

“The best of street photography is about finding that one moment somewhere. That one moment that you can kind of hold onto and then keep it for a long time,” Younger said.

“Because it’s public, you catch people at moments where they’re unguarded,” Younger said. “It allows the viewer to look at people without being seen.”

When taking street photographs, Younger likes to look for humorous images and interactions between people. To get just the right mix in the frame of his camera, he will stand for hours waiting in one spot. For example, one photograph in the collection features a shadow figure pointing at a bird. While people have assumed he manipulated the photograph in Photoshop, in reality Younger waited for something to enter the frame of his camera there.

“I try to make people imagine what happened or what’s going to happen,” Younger said. “The pictures are not complete … the message is somewhat obscured, and people get to imagine what’s going on.”

More information on Dan Younger's photography is available on his website.

Related Event

Sheldon Art Galleries Presents "Dan Younger: Travel Places"
February 7 - May 17, 2014
Tuesdays, 12:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Wednesdays - Fridays, 12:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Sheldon Art Galleries, 3648 Washington Blvd.
For more information, call 314-533-9900 or visit the Sheldon website.

Cityscape is produced by Mary Edwards and Alex Heuer, hosted bySteve Potter and funded in part by the the Arts and Education Council of Greater St. Louis, the Regional Arts Commission and the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.