Tony Hertz | Naples Art Association

"In full sunlight, I set my camera to ISO 3200 to obtain a high shutter speed with maximum depth of field. I photographed with Live View through a waterproof bag. Drying off the outside lens often, awkward camera positions and tight finger space were some of my main challenges,” Hertz said.

Tony Hertz, Gnarled Wave, black and white photography, 2012.
“My aim was to make an image contrary to what I shoot more often — long exposure photography. In full sunlight, I set my camera to ISO 3200 to obtain a high shutter speed with maximum depth of field. I photographed with Live View through a waterproof bag. Drying off the outside lens often, awkward camera positions and tight finger space were some of my main challenges,” Hertz said.

In January of 2013, the Naples Art Association issued a nationwide “call-for-photographers” and began accepting entries from across the USA. Photographers from 32 states answered the call and uploaded images of their work for an online jury process for the third annual Camera USA National Photography Award and Exhibition.

Harry Benson, Ron Bishop and Christopher Rauschenberg reviewed and scored entries for Camera USA. Forty-five photographs were accepted for the exhibition from a total of 183 submissions. The photographers presenting their work come from 15 states including all regions of Florida.

On Friday, June 14, 2013, the Naples Art Association presented Tony Hertz of Pismo Beach, California, with a $5,000 Award for his black and white photograph, “Gnarled Wave.”

Hertz appreciates the simplicity of black and white photography. “The challenge and discovery in making simple compositional elements in black and white and color deepens my personal meanings to nature. To me nature is like a sanctuary, a place apart. My intention is to photograph what is felt and not often seen. I enjoy capturing those moments that evoke mystery, mood and beauty, and sharing them,” Hertz said.

Photographic Artist Tony Hertz next to his winning black and white photo, Gnarled Wave, with one of the three show jurors, Ron Bishop.

Hertz has more than 25 years of professional photography experience with 10 years as a daily newspaper photographer in California, photographing everything from U.S. Presidents, the Queen of England, Pope Paul, celebrities, musicians, famous sports figures and major news and community events. “Working as a photojournalist helped refine my compositional instincts when I turned to focus mainly on landscape and nature subjects for personal and fine art photography work,” said Hertz.

His award-winning photography has been widely published, with worldwide credits including Time Magazine, Los Angeles Times, New York Times Magazine, USA Today, National Geographic WORLD, Sunset Magazine, New York Times, Chicago Tribune, San Francisco Chronicle and the Christian Science Monitor.

When he’s not out in the field shooting, he’s likely spending time in a traditional wet darkroom, editing images from a recent photo trip or teaching photography with Cuesta College Fine Arts Department in San Luis Obispo, California.