Lance Forney-Biography
Music and arts have always been of interest, beginning with his musical roots in gospel vocals at the age of five. He is an accomplished musician, playing several instruments including the trumpet, french horn and guitar, the latter of which he still enjoys today. Lance dabbled in many mediums growing up including pen and pencil, charcoal, pastel, water colors and writing. Perhaps he dabbled in a few he shouldn’t have.
Lance focused on developing his skills as a photographer since making it his full time career choice seven years ago. Lance has never had a formal education in photography, having learned from 30 years reading books and attending workshops, followed by more years of field and lab testing, developing his uncanny relationship with light and film .
His influences come from Cole and Edward Weston, Ansel Adams, Joseph and David Muensch. Lance's natural sense for composition enables him to recreate the emotion in the viewer that he feels when immersed capturing the image.
1999- Photographed for a year in New Mexico for Mountain States Insurance Group for their new corporate headquarters in Albuquerque.
2000-2001, Photographed the Arizona State Parks and has work on display at various state parks and the headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona.
2002 following chemo for Hep C, Lance began photographing and documenting the former Traverse City State Hospital in Traverse City, Michigan. FreeLance Perceptions, Lance’s publishing company, is pleased to introduce the first public release from this new and exciting collection of images. It represents a substantial change in style from landscape, to still and architechtural art.
Lance is currently working on a commission for Axciom, an international data and financial management company, to develop a new and exclusive collection of Arizona photography for their new headquarters, scheduled to open in the spring of 2004, in Phoenix, Arizona. His passion is publishing the Vision Tour, a body of southwest images Lance photographed, traveling some 250,000 miles the last five years. Client response has exceeded that of any body of work released to date.
Lance Forney-Creative Statement
“It has been thirty two years since I was evaluated for admission to what was then Traverse City State Hospital. I was grateful they declined admission then and still am. It would seem a normal curiousity then, since making this my home, that I would explore these historic buildings.
My thanks to Ray Minervini and James Reardon of the Minervini Group for making this work possible. Eight years ago, tempered by illness, I began to see for the first time in my life. Funny how realizing one's mortality serves as such a dynamic catalyst. The most immediate change was the natural clarification of priorities. Imagine the concurrent struggle to define the value and purpose of a life lived for more than thirty years with reckless abandon.
Many people in my life question the choice of leaving the secure world of regular income and employment. There are many trade offs in the decision to pursue art full time. It is a daily struggle, but I remain focused on the inspirations and everything just works out.
“Health has taught me live now. If you live one more year or forty, really live it, don’t let fear stop you from trying something new or risky. Make decisions as though you have one chance to make them and follow where your heart leads. Anything you pursue with passion will bring you success.Redefine success.”
*