Professional photographer, Robert Demar, has been taking pictures, capturing his surroundings on film, since he was a young boy with a Brownie Hawkeye. While his photographic career began in the Seattle area, he now lives and works on San Juan Island in Washington state, where he finds his camera drawn to many compelling subjects.
B&W Photography
Between 1975 and 2002, Demar worked almost exclusively in black and white photography, doing all of his own darkroom processing and printing. He had numerous solo and group exhibitions of his B&W photographs in the greater Seattle area and on San Juan Island during this period, including Colorless Impressions ~ portraits of homeless people living in Seattle’s First Avenue area, American Camp ~ a documentary study, spanning three years and all seasons, of a scenic national park located on the southern tip of San Juan Island, Madrona Macros ~ close-up macro photographs revealing intriguing textures and patterns in the peeling, fracturing bark of Madrona trees, and Nautical Highways ~ a pictorial history of the Washington state ferries serving the San Juan Islands between 1997 and 2001. Demar’s book of black and white photos on this subject, Nautical Highways, Ferries of the San Juan Islands, was published in 2002.
Although Demar enjoys taking photos everywhere he goes, he tends to concentrate on certain subject matter, attempting to see it in every possible light (literally and figuratively). In addition to the photographic series mentioned above, he has also worked extensively with such subjects as old homesteads and scenic landscapes of the Methow River valley in Eastern Washington, and the Oregon Dunes.
When asked why he worked in black and white photography, Demar would say that he enjoyed the control and fine tuning possible during the process of creating toned, silver gelatin, fine art prints in his own darkroom. Since working with a color lab to create color prints was not as satisfying, he stuck with B&W for the most part.
Color Digital Photography
However, when professional digital cameras and the capability to make high quality, archival digital giclée prints became available around 2000, Demar began to apply his well-developed photographic talents to taking color pictures. His first color study to be shown in exhibition was Fish Net Variations ~ a series of macro and close-up images manifesting the alluring textures, patterns and colors found in nets and fishing gear used by salmon fishermen in the Pacific Northwest.
Some other subjects now attracting Demar’s color-tuned eye and digital camera are: Skagit Valley Tulips ~ over 60 varieties blooming in acres of fields, drawing visitors from far away to the annual Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, Wild Snow Geese ~ nature photography at a reserve located in Skagit Valley, San Juan Marinescapes ~ marine photography celebrating the seascapes, sunsets, sunrises, reflections, ferries, sail boats, small harbors, and the waterways among the hundreds of islands off the northwest coast of Washington, Motorcycle Baditudes ~ a look at the visual persona of bikers attending the annual Oyster Run rally in Anacortes, Washington, Rush Hour ~ a 25-hour documentary study of rush hour traffic, the freeway commute, in the greater Seattle metropolitan area, and Simple Resting Places ~ pictures revealing modest and nearly forgotten grave sites and cemeteries found along little-traveled blue highways of the Northwest. And, this time with his digital camera, Demar returns to his previous interest in Madrona trees, creating a series of color macro images called Madrona Moments.
Robert Demar is also quite well known for his professional aerial photography. He takes assignments from local realtors and private individuals, who depend on him to provide clear, accurate images of island properties and surrounding environment. The photos in San Juan Aerials, a series taken from some of his assignments, validate the name given to these islands, The Crown Jewels of the Pacific Northwest.
Photographs by Robert Demar
Fine Art Giclée & Silver Gelatin Prints
Demar welcomes you to this on-line gallery of his photography, past and present. It is his intention to add new series of images periodically. Visit the What’s New page for hints of new work, comments, exhibition announcements, and notice of special sales. Visit the Fine Art Prints page to read more about each of the series, both about the subject matter and the technical data. Also on this page you will find information about giclée and silver gelatin prints, print sizes, commercial orders, gallery inquiries, and the guarantee offered should you decide to purchase a print. Visit the Prices & Ordering page for prices on available print options and ordering information for fine art prints of any of the images shown on this site.
Back to top of this Page
