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Interview
MY STORY
Howard Austin Feld, Miami’s premier fashion photographer during the city’s formative years as an international arts capital, pioneered digital photography. His studio was the first to move from film-based photography to digital captures in the 1990s. With the challenges of commercial success achieved, HAF pursued applications of digital technology to the human form. His was revolutionary practice, a forerunner of new approaches to art-making in this realm. It was also prophetic as life in Miami would imitate art, which established his new images as emblematic of the new Miami, the Miami of today.
With Miami’s best fashion models collaborating with him, HAF photographed their toned bodies in striking formal ways, which he then edited using computer technology during an era when few were experimenting with its potential. He was less concerned with improving the models good looks than transforming the images into rich markers of human sensuality. With media attention and the influx of international tourists complimented with a growing interest in new art in Miami, he established the signature gallery Howard Austin Feld’s Digital Photographic Art along Miami Beach’s cultural center of Lincoln Road. It was a bold move at the time, showcasing Digital Photographic Art when many still doubted its legitimacy. But the response was tremendous. People connected with the emotional depth and visual richness of the work, and it helped cement HAF’s identity as both photographer and artist.
In recent years, HAF’s gallery has relocated to Fort Lauderdale Fl. HAF’s art focuses on the human form, wildlife and architecture in the environment, incorporating water, rocks, nature and sky’s in fresh ways that transcend immediate images into timeless art. This distinctive approach merges the precision of photography with the expressive power of digital manipulation. The photographs are signed and numbered in editions of 40 on verso.
OPSTACLES / CHALLENGES
The practice of photographing black-and-white nudes, wildlife, and architecture presents unique technical and interpretive demands across each genre. However, when viewed through a monochromatic framework, these disparate subjects reveal formal parallels, unified by principles of tonal contrast, spatial composition, and visual rhythm.
Nudes:
Photographing the human form without color demands a heightened sensitivity to light and shadow. Without chromatic cues, the emphasis shifts entirely to contour, gesture, texture, and tone. The challenge is not just technical, finding the right light, the right pose, the right stillness, but deeply emotional. To depict vulnerability with dignity, to make sensuality poetic rather than provocative, requires trust between artist and subject, and an eye trained on intimacy rather than spectacle.
Wildlife:
In contrast, wildlife photography relies on spontaneity and respect for unpredictability. The difficulty lies in merging patience with preparedness, waiting for the perfect moment while contending with constantly shifting light, behavior, and landscape. In black and white, the absence of color makes it even more vital to capture decisive moments of form and emotion. The animal’s posture, gaze, or placement within the frame must tell the story alone.
Architecture:
Architecture offers structure, permanence, and geometry, yet the challenge is to animate it, bringing emotion into the static. In black and white, architectural elements become studies in light, shadow, rhythm, and design. The task is not to document a building, but to reveal its soul, whether through symmetry, distortion, scale, or the interplay of natural light across its surfaces.
Bridging the Genres:
Working in all three realms and often blending them together requires a conceptual thread. Whether it’s a cheetah still as sculpture, a nude form as architectural landscape, or a building caught in an animalistic stillness, the challenge is to connect them not just aesthetically but emotionally. And at every step, the absence of color means that composition, tone, and depth must carry the full visual and emotional weight.
MY WORK
My photography is a fusion of timeless craftsmanship, modern digital innovation, and a deep sensitivity to light, form, and emotion. My body of work spans black-and-white nudes, wildlife, architecture, and surreal compositions, all unified by a commitment to creating imagery that transcends documentation and enters the realm of visual poetry. In my black-and-white nudes, I approached the human form as both sculpture and landscape capturing vulnerability, sensuality, and strength with the same reverence I apply to nature. My wildlife photography balances patience and intuition, often portraying animals in moments of stillness that resonate with quiet power. My architectural work is equally compelling, revealing the rhythm, geometry, and spirit of structures through bold contrasts and elegant composition. A recurring theme in my work is the blending of reality with dreamlike atmospheres, where the line between nature, humanity, and environment dissolves. Pieces such as my “WaterLadies” series and surreal landscapes embody this vision, merging the rawness of black-and-white photography with a sense of timeless narrative and mystery.My work has been featured in galleries and private collections, recognized for its ability to combine technical mastery with a deeply emotional and cinematic approach. Each image reflects not just what is seen, but what is felt, an invitation for viewers to pause, reflect, and engage with the quiet stories embedded within light and shadow.I am currently preparing to publish my book, which showcases highlights of my images from 1997 to the present. This retrospective captures the arc of my journey and the enduring beauty of Digital Photographic Art.
SUPPORT & COLLABORTION
Throughout my career, I have embraced the importance of collaboration in both the creative and professional realms. From working closely with models, conservationists, and architectural designers, to partnering with printers, curators, and collectors, each project is shaped by a shared commitment to excellence and vision. I thrive in environments where dialogue and mutual trust elevate the work, whether that means guiding a subject through a vulnerable moment, aligning with institutions to explore new exhibitions, or collaborating with interior designers to integrate fine art into built environments. I welcome opportunities to connect with galleries, creative partners, and organizations that value photography as a tool for storytelling, transformation, and emotional impact. Support from collectors, curators, and fellow artists not only sustain my work, but deepens its reach and resonance.