In His Own Words: American Photographer: A Portfolio

My first step in the creative process is determining the imagery I want to interpret. I use either a film or digital camera. Once I’ve captured the image I want, the altering or enhancement process begins. Whether I am working in a wet darkroom or using the computer, my goal is to gain maximum originality. I may change the color of an object, remove the color, texturize it, or eliminate it entirely from the composition. The end result is an image composition that contains both captured and created elements. My work is published using high quality pigment ink on an archival surface, such as paper, canvas, wood, or metal.

Wendell Earl Gorden

My desire is to capture and create images that make bold statements relevant to my life’s experiences. I photograph people, places, and things in an effort to share an emotion or mood with my viewer. The imagination is our most intriguing asset. It connects our conscious mind to our subconscious. Imagination also allows us to explore our inner most self and satisfies an urgent need to understand our ever-changing body, mind, and spirit. This is an important need for almost every one of us.

I think of myself as a person who creates fine art, an artist. I have heard certain terms different people use to describe what I—and others—create as digital photography and digital painting, as well as electronic art, computer art, digital art, or digital fine art. They also often refer to us as digital photographers. No matter what they call us or the work we create, it is always my pleasure to produce work that viewers might enjoy and profit from.

A Buffalo Soldier re-enactor as flag bearer in Dallas, Texas, in May 2004.

Photograph by Wendell Earl Gorden.

Photograph taken in Milo, Oklahoma, at a roping pen used for handling ranch stock in February 2002.

Photograph by Wendell Earl Gorden.

A roping event at the Roping Pen in Dallas, Texas, in 2002.

Photograph by Wendell Earl Gorden.

Buffalo Soldier re-enactors cooking on an open fire at a public exhibition at the Will Rogers Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas, in September 2006.

Photograph by Wendell Earl Gorden.

A black cowboy with a small herd of longhorn steers at the Fort Worth Stockyards in 2002.

Photograph by Wendell Earl Gorden.

Buffalo Soldiers re-enacting the handling of a wagon pulled by horses at an event at Fair Park in Dallas, Texas. Photographed in 2004.

Photograph by Wendell Earl Gorden.

Black cowboys watching a roping event at the Roping Pen in Dallas, Texas. Photograph taken in February 2002.

Photograph by Wendell Earl Gorden.

Lil’ Terrence and Pepe the horse walking around the Roping Pen in Dallas, Texas. Photographed in 2002.

Photograph by Wendell Earl Gorden.