John Fliss has a passion for Creative Images of everyday beauty. His explorations currently have him somewhere caught in the
middle of Realism and Surrealism. These spectacularly vivid photographs are an attempt to share his spiritual connection to his
new home Arizona.
While attending high school in Cape Cod, Ma. John began to understand that in making a surrealistic photo the process must begin with a strong quality image which can stand on it's own. Only then can the image be manipulated toward the surreal
abstractions he enjoys. In those high school days solarizations and infrared film studies were his favorite photo techniques.
Working as a photo stringer for United Press International while attending the University of Buffalo gave John a sense of urgency to capture special moments in time. Journalism and documentary styles were seen in his photography offerings early on.
He moved to Manhattan to further his education at Columbia University. The decision to relocate was based mainly on John's
commitment to enhance his training and experience via exposure to The Big Apple and it's prominent photographic community.

                                                                       
       
John became a master color printer  working 8 yrs for the best advertising printing labs Madison Ave's advertising world offered.
He credits Frank Tartaro's Dye Transfer lab with teaching him the skills he continue's to use in his darkroom and digital printing techniques.
During his 25 years in Manhattan, he pursued an exceptional photo education by taking workshops with and thus, meeting and
spending time with the biggest names in the worldwide photographic community.
Photographers Irving Penn, Ruth Orkin, Ernst Haas, Philippe Halsman, Francesco Scavullo, Alfred Eisenstead, Eliot Porter,
Jay Maisel, John Rios, Peter B. Kaplan and many more counseled him on his craft. 
More photographers whom inspired John included Andreas Feininger, Jerry Uelsmann, Alfred Stieglitz, Edward Steichen, Gjon Mili, Man Ray, Richard Avedon, Edward Weston, Henri-Carter Bresson, Margaret Bourke-White, and W. Eugene Smith.
Talking with people like the amazing Alfred Eisenstead enriched John's spirit in a huge positive way.  Ruth Orkin inspired John big time. " Ruth was as brilliant as she was humble and charming. She was a very good teacher of her craft....a generous genius. Her raw journalistic style still shines brightly today".
When the king himself Ansel Adams signed a book for John in 1979 he knew he was on the right track by seeking counsel from the purest  Masters of Photography. It is mostly Ansel Adams' work that sparked something deeply creative in John.
He would go on to further his art experience by attending photo gallery openings ( large & small ), museums ( large & small ), and regular involvement with the NYC art community.
His images are the story of a basic image turned upside down with abstract effects ,though, he approachs his craft from a Spiritual voyage. He's happy to report that his art has moved on in a positive direction in awesome Arizona,U.S.A.
Cacti, Mountains, Lakes, Canyon's and so much more are offered in this beautiful desert paradise. The constant bright Southwest sun is perfect for these highly graphic images.
                        
                                     "Arizona is mighty hot in the summer ,but, the people are cool and friendly year round".

 

                                                               
Saquaro Cactus

The Saguaro, pronounced "sah-wah-roh", (Carnegiea gigantea) is a large, tree-sized cactus species in the monotypic genus Carnegiea. It is native to the Sonoran Desert in Arizona, the Mexican states of Sonora and Baja California, and an extremely small area of California. The saguaro blossom is the state flower of Arizona.                                  http://www.santanford.com/

                      

             Arizona Magic