MAYES MACDONELL
ANALOG ARTIST
BIO
Mayes MacDonell is a fine art photographer and printmaker from Austin, TX, currently based in Miami, FL.
Her preferred medium uses analog film and a variety of alternative processes to conjure photographic prints
that are reminiscent of the early 20th century. Time is a medium of its own, as it takes weeks, even months, from a silver gelatin captured shot to the final image fixed on paper. Through her work she attempts to reawaken the mood and nostalgia of photographs that predate digital imagery. The ongoing artistic process consists of carting around Leica & 4x5 field cameras, manipulating enlarger lighting, and refining paper toning/ staining techniques ; all in pursuit of the desired vintage effect. She explores certain themes more than others, such as: Biophilia, Water Bodies, Coconut Grove, Hortographic subjects, and her lifelong curiosity of Biker Culture.
Mayes has spent many hours in darkrooms around the country and learned techniques from master photographers and printers, honing her craft in locations such as:
Gowanus Darkroom - Brooklyn, NY
Darkroom & Digital - Miami, FL
Penumbra Foundation - New York, NY