About Susan McKinley

Artist’s Statement

I grew up with a fascination for the sky, architecture and landscape scenery. All of these interests are present in my photography.

I got my first serious camera over thirty-five years ago. It has been a constant in my life through changes and moves. My subject matter has evolved over time, but my camera remains my steadfast companion. A student of Art History for many years, the study of art over the centuries informs me in both traditional and contemporary images.

With structures, it is a challenge to find unusual angles and I often include the sky. At times, the perspective I select is vertigo-inducing and the viewer might wonder if the building is about to topple down on him or her. That is the magic of good architecture—there are so many ways to experience it.

The sky is not just blue. There are degrees of blue in the sky worth noting. There has been a tremendous incidence of luck in some images I have made. If I am lucky sky happens to be stunning a day I am out shooting.

Landscapes and scenery are not new subjects. Over centuries, painters brought marvelous landscapes into popularity. All of this time later, we still love to look at those views. Reflections in water and windows can add interest.

Living in The Netherlands has afforded me many opportunities to photograph my favorite subjects. Travel to wonderful destinations is easy from this country. Locally, I walk, drive and cycle with an eye to future subjects for my work—it never stops. I hope you find something in this work to delight your eye.

Who knows better than a photographer .. that Every Picture has a Story!

Exhibitions

July-August 2015 – FOUR Exhibition, PhotographySchool.nl studios,
The Hague, Netherlands

October 2014 – Artists International, Netherlands Group Exhibition,
The Hague, Netherlands

August 2014 – Shell Summer Expo, Shell Headquarters
The Hague, Netherlands
April 2010 – Group Exhibition, Images International Photography Club – Central Library,
The Hague, Netherlands

April 2009 – “3 Women, 3 Countries, 3 Artists” – Co-exhibiting with Sally Levell and Monika Reinhardt – American Women’s Club of The Hague,
The Hague, Netherlands

June 2008 – Solo Exhibition – “Structures, Skies, Scenes” Shell World Headquarters,
The Hague, Netherlands

June 2007 – Members’ Group Exhibition – American Women’s Club of The Hague,
The Hague, Netherlands

Memberships

Images International Photoghaphy Club
The Hague, Netherlands

I feel it is important to my craft to study great art and photography from all time periods and genres. Visiting museums is a way to educate and open my eyes to various forms of composition and use of color. Therefore, I’m an active member of the following museums: The Smithsonian, http://www.si.edu/, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston www.mfah.org; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York www.metmuseum.org, Museum of Modern Art, New York www.moma.org, Mauritshuis, The Hague www.mauritshuis.nl; FOAM (Photography Museum of Amsterdam), Amsterdam www.foam.org; National Museum Card, www.museumkaart.nl The Netherlands.

Activities

Photo Safari facilitator – American Women’s Club of The Hague
The Hague, Netherlands

October 2008 & October 2009

Cyanotype Workshop Leader – May, 2010

Images International Photoghaphy Club
The Hague, Netherlands

Testimonials

We both felt in love with Susan’s work. Expressive, imaginative, and different. After debating among the many options, we chose a fence close up with many intertwined branches from an old plant. So powerful! We proudly have her picture in our dinning room in Chile and makes us remember fondly our friend Susan. Pilar & Javier.

We have known Susan for 25 years and have followed her adventures and journeys through her exquisite photography. We were delighted when she had her first showing and excited to be able to purchase one of her pieces. Susan not only captures her subject in an imaginative way, but she was also brings a wealth of experience and assistance on how to present the piece as well. Upon choosing, Susan provided great suggestions on texture, size and placement. We are very proud to have a “McKinley Original” in our office, and plan to purchase more! Charles and Suzanne Jackson

Susan McKinley’s photo was a perfect gift for my husband, but one I would love as well. She captured the essence of the unique architecture and charm of the many cities we had visited across Europe. I feel like I am gazing up in awe at the gnarled vines reaching up the building facade. It is a picture from Dresden, but could have been any of the historic places we visited. Susan has an eye for picking scenes that make a lasting impression. I was was lucky enough to spend a day on a photo safari with Susan in Den Hague, NL and was gifted with the some advice of how to really see the interesting views that a city has to offer–things we take for granted or don’t notice in an average day. Now I have some of her work hanging in our home and memories forever.
Charlotte Coyle

In April, 2009, I attended an exhibit at The American Women’s Club in The Hague. On display, there were certain works created by three local artists, one of whom was Susan McKinley, a photographer. At the exhibit, I was particularly impressed by a photo which Susan had taken from behind a cyclist, as he made his way down the bike path on the Prinsenweg one day during winter in Wassenaar. The bike path, passing between a canal to the left and the road to the right, led to a bridge, which crossed over the canal perpendicularly. What struck me most about this picture was that it captured the cold feel of the winter condensation as it rose up from the water in the canal and over the bikepath, creating a certain mirage, as the cyclist disappeared into its mist in his approach towards the bridge. This photograph, which now hangs in my home here in Houston, is a wonderful reminder to me of the beauty of Holland – even during winter, when the weather is cold there and the daylight is weak. Dena Bright