These photographs are taken from a larger body of work begun in 1994. These pictures represent what was then a departure from my more usual style of working which is: black and white, medium format, and shooting from the hip. For this project, I used a 4x5 view camera, which requires careful and deliberate setup, and color negative film, to produce the widest range of color and contrast possible, and extremely sharp detail. In this manner, I can deliver a rich and colorful meditation on the urban landscape. Each picture is a deliberate and willfull expression. This is what I shot and this is exactly what I wanted to show.

This of course leads to the next question: What am I looking at? The answer to that, in most basic terms, is the landscape. Landscape is not only defined as a view or vista of scenery, but also the aspect of the land or scenery of a particular region. With this broad definition I hope I can characterize my photographs as "Landscapes."

I shoot the landscape around me, rendering the familiar things and places I see every day with care and reverence. This is home. These are the beautiful and evocative things which set a mood or spark a memory, the weather or quality of light remind us of more than the present. Of course they can be ugly or stark, this is our landscape, but that doesn't make them any less evocative or meaningful (perhaps more). And lastly, is it political? Can you take a picture from any street corner and not be political? That's the easy part...

Enlargements are produced from high resolution scans of the original 4"x5" negatives, and output to RA-4 process color development prints on Fuji Crystal Archive paper. All prints from this set are available in an edition of five, signed and dated, matted and framed. Prints are aproximately 20" by 16". Price is $500. All images are copyright 2000 by Steven Mastroianni, reproduction is strictly prohibited.

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