Anthony (Tony) Graziano has a belief that our bonds to the natural world are instinctual and that we are drawn to nature as an emotional refuge and as a means of spiritual renewal. This belief guides his artistic vision and presentation style. Tony wants the viewer to feel like they can place themselves in the scene, feel absorbed and enveloped by it and experience a sense of peace and serenity.

Tony’s overarching goals are to share the sense of calm and contentment he experiences in nature and also to advocate for the preservation of the natural beauty that surrounds us. He uses his photography as a medium to create awareness and stimulate involvement to help protect our fragile environment. “So, in a sense, he did not necessarily choose nature as a photography theme as much as it chose me”, says Tony.

As an artist, Tony’s vision flows from what is first perceived then to what is felt, and finally, to what is seen. He tries to spend an extended period of time within a location to experience its unique energy before creating an image. His goal is to create a photograph this is both emotionally calming and visually stimulating. His primary tools are composition, color palette, and the use of light to convey an awareness of time and place to draw viewers into his images and “experience” the beauty of the natural world.

“I believe that a scene has meaning and integrity and I’m drawn to photograph it for that reason. My overarching approach to post-processing is grounded in that belief and I generally do little to alter the image beyond basic processing for exposure, contrast, etc.” However, Tony does work to bring out and share the feeling or moods he experienced when coming upon a scene. This usually involves working with composition, light, shadow, and subtle vignetting techniques trying to be consistent with a “look” to achieve a recognizable style.

In 2011, Graziano traveled to Yosemite to pay homage to Ansel Adams and also to see how well he could photograph this awe-inspiring place. This body of work he created resulted in two photography books, “In The Midst of Creation” and “Ode to Ansel”. The experience led him to a life-altering decision to pursue his passion for nature photography and set a plan in motion. He moved to a tranquil location bordered by a lake and surrounded by natural areas, ponds, and a seashore to explore, photograph, and plan his escape from the corporate world.

Anthony Graziano has been displaying his art photography for sale with PhotoArtPavilion.com since 2020. Not only is Tony a gifted art photographer but he is also a talented educator and a wonderful friend. The Photo Art Pavilion curators, Joanne Henig and Jessica Lempin appreciate his artistry and the many opportunities we’ve had to work with Tony.