EVENT DETAILS

This opening reception will feature fine art photography by well-known architectural photographer Randy Van Duinen.  It will also serve as the Kick-Off Celebration for AIA Tampa Bay’s new QR Code Architecture Tour program – www.tourtampabayarchitecture.com.  AIA has partnered with several community organizations to make this program a success, including the History Center, the Downtown Partnership among others.  Guests will enjoy a complimentary reception with food, beer and wine, a great exhibit, mingling and the opportunity to be one of the first to see the new tour.

No RSVP required and all are welcome to attend!

Randy Van Duinen Artist Bio:
Randy grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan where he graduated from Grand Valley State University. Randy and his wife moved to Southern California in 1991 where he worked as a studio manager and associate photographer. Four years later they moved to San Francisco where he operated his own architectural photography studio for over six years. Randy relocated his studio in 2001 to St. Petersburg, Florida where he is currently a working architectural and art photographer and instructor. He has been a professional photographer for over 20 years and his photography is in hundreds of brochures for builders, architects and interior designers from around the country.

Randy has been published in many local and national magazines, including Interiors, Builder, Professional Builder, USA Today and Tampa Bay Illustrated. His art photography is in the permanent collection of the Grand Rapids Art Museum and is in many corporate and private collections. Randy has spoken at national photography events, most recently a featured speaker at the 2009 Florida Professional Photographers Convention. Randy is also an instructor of photography at The Morean Art Center in St. Petersburg, FL, teaching architectural, Photoshop, Lightroom and HDR photography.

Artist Statement:
My dream came true ten years ago when I became a Florida resident. This happened just before the massive housing boom began. I immediately began seeking out some of the old family owned hotels of the 40s, 50s and 60s and found that, at a surprising pace, they were being demolished to make room for huge condo and hotel complexes. The "Old Florida" I loved from the postcards was quickly disappearing. I decided then to dedicate myself to preserving these icons through photography.

While I was growing up in Michigan, spending long winters with snow up to my knees, my grandparents were wintering in Florida. They would send postcards showing lush green palm trees, beautiful beaches, clear blue water and colorful motels and restaurants, many constructed in the 40s and 50s. My dream was to one day visit this beautiful state and find some of the places depicted on those postcards.

As I was documenting these images I learned of a new process called "High Dynamic Range" photography, a process allowing my photographs to take on an illustrative quality reminiscent of the postcards I treasured as a child.

Since my move to Florida, I am constantly aware of the fact that I am often just one step ahead of the wrecking ball. The old days of strolling Clearwater Beach past small hotels, restaurants and open views of the ocean have almost completely disappeared. Sadly, they are being replaced by condos, hotels and strip malls. My hope is that my photography will be a permanent reminder of what Florida "was" and what it will never be again.