Photographs on view at jen bekman
March 23 - April 30, 2005

NEW YORK, NY- Eliot Shepard's New York solo debut of digital color photographs, Slower, opens at jen bekman, 6 Spring Street New York, NY on Wednesday March 23, 2005 and remains on view through April 30, 2005. An opening reception for the artist will be held on the evening of Tuesday March 22, 2005 : 6pm to 8pm at jen bekman.

This exhibition of 20 digital ultrachrome prints represents the diverse range of Shepard's photographs, which Choire Sicha described in ARTFORUM Magazine as being "freakishly, outrageously good - diaristic, classic, and unclassifiable."

Shepard's photographic career parallels, and in many ways represents, the increasing presence of digital photography within the visual arts, as well as the rise of online venues for its presentation. Indeed, Shepard's photo site, slower.net, is one of the most well-regarded on the internet.

What separates Shepard's work from the larger phenomenon of digital shooting, and also what unifies it as a body of images, is his truly uncommon eye, for which he is increasingly being recognized. ARTFORUM's Sicha describes Shepard as "the best snapshot photographer you've never heard of."

In the realm of online photography, however, Shepard and slower.net are already iconic. Although Shepard had been a film photography hobbyist all his life, his serious -- and incessant -- work as a photographer began in 2001 with the purchase of a Canon S30. For Shepard, a web developer, the Internet was a logical outlet for his work. Established November, 2001, slower.net now receives more than 1,000 visitors each day.

Shepard comments: "I've always taken film photos, which I often would forget to get developed. Digital worked for me because I could close the loop myself - the quick turnaround and immediate self-evaluation allowed me to get better, technically and aesthetically."

Jen Bekman first saw Shepard's work via the online photo site fotolog.net. Shepard and jen bekman were both subsequently featured in a May 2003 New York Times' special feature on the best of photo-blogging.

Shepard made his gallery debut at jen bekman's inaugural Pin-Up Show in February, 2004. His work has recently been included in a group exhibition at Clementine Gallery, and has been seen in New York magazine and other publications. This is his first solo exhibition.