Painting With Light

New Digital Pictures

Abstract Pictures 

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INFORMATION THAT MIGHT HELP PREPARE A PRESS RELEASE


John Neville Cohen’s remarkable photography is a canvas painted with curiosity, innovation, and a love for the extraordinary. His artistry transcends traditional photography, inspiring viewers with his unique and captivating approach.

A World First
Known for his iconic photography ‘Spirit of Spring’ created by using his own innovative technique of ‘painting with light’. By blending a portrait transparency with a negative image of a red tulip on the same Kodachrome emulsion, he achieved a captivating and harmonious composition. The interplay of light and form in this work evokes a sense of magic and wonder, making it one of his most celebrated creations.

Unlike digital manipulation, his method relied solely on light and film to create mesmerizing images. In the 1960s, Cohen developed his own special effects using Kodachrome colour reversal film avoiding any digital software or darkroom chemistry.

Cohen has held over 20 one-man major exhibitions across cities like New York, London, and Edinburgh. His technique was a true innovation in photography.

John’s technique involves photographing projected images, but not necessarily onto a screen. His portfolio includes stunning photographs that evoke emotions and intrigue. His images resonate universally, appealing to all who appreciate the purity of this photographic technique. His limited-edition prints continue to captivate art enthusiasts.

In summary, John Neville Cohen’s ‘painting with light’ technique where he masterfully blends light and form, is a remarkable blend of creativity, pure photography, and visual storytelling. His special effects incorporate projectors, crystals, and reflections, adding layers of complexity defying expectations and inviting viewers to engage with his sophisticated art.

Cohen’s projection photography is a testament to creativity, innovation, and the timeless allure of light and imagery.

While search algorithms may not always highlight specific artists, his work has been a hidden gem waiting to be discovered by those who appreciate the magic of light and imagery.

Profile: John Neville Cohen, a multifaceted photographic artist and collector, defies categorization. His creative endeavours span projection photography, where he masterfully blends light and form, to his passion for collecting Asian antiques and classic Jensen cars. Additionally, he has contributed to the world by publishing ‘The History of Jacey Cinemas’ and a unique stamp collecting album for little people.

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PLEASE NOTE: The following is written in the third person, because I have compiled this from a number of previously published sources, so everything on this page has been written, or said, by someone else, but I did not want to include even more quotations, than I have already. 

Evidence - See Press Cuttings & Letters

What is Special About the Amazing Art of John Neville Cohen?

John Neville Cohen is really an artist who uses photography.  Photographer’s record reality and the best do that really well, but John creates amazing fantasy from reality!  His beautiful pictures surprise, intrigue and make quite a statement!

" One of the essential differences between the artist and the photographer is that the artist always starts with a blank canvas, whereas the photographer's canvas 'The Viewfinder', or screen, is always full!"   John Neville Cohen

There are three reasons why John’s art is so special: -

  • Firstly, he invented his own photographic ‘painting with light’ method (a very different and original 'special effect' pure photographic technique in the early 1960's) without using any computer, darkroom chemicals, or expensive equipment, to create his unique top international award-winning studies. This enabled him to produce transparencies (mostly on Kodachrome) that amazed other photographers, Kodak and all the experts at the time, well before anyone had computers. 

  • Secondly, his pictures are not simply the well composed flower, fruit, landscape, nude or portrait studies.  His pictures are so imaginative and once seen, form an impression not easily forgotten.  They have stood the test of time since many of his most valued pictures were created over 50 years ago. 

  • Thirdly, he has a unique vision and his own art style that everyone can easily understand, yet no one else creates fantasy visual art like his.
     

The first time ‘The London Salon Trophy’, a much-coveted International award for artistic photography had ever been awarded for a colour photograph (printed from a Kodachrome transparency) was for 'Spirit of Spring’ in 1967. John was not only the youngest salon member ever to have received it, but it was also the very first time a transparency positive and a negative, appeared on the same film emulsion. Although technically extraordinary, it is more importantly a very fine work of art. 

Large limited edition prints, by John Neville Cohen, Spirit of Spring, Tulip, Woman, Orange, Green, Brown

Spirit of Spring

 

National Science and Media Museum Bradford, West Yorkshire BD1 1NQ 
NSMM Research Library Book database. Reference: 770.05.COH
Author: Cohen, John Neville Title: Painting With Light By Projection Photography: Pure Photography Using Light & Film Self Published,
Description: Essay and references to the pioneering technique developed by John Neville Cohen, which enabled the creation of ‘Spirit of Spring’, the first ever Kodachrome transparency that had both a portrait and a negative image of a tulip, on the same emulsion.

 

 

Large limited edition prints, by John Neville Cohen, Beauty Is, Peacock feather, glamourous lady, John's wife.

Beauty is

 

 

John’s discovery was based on simply photographing projected images that were not always projected on to a screen and the chosen screen often became the subject of the picture; John has photographed projected images on to a feather, a flower, a shell, a butterfly wing, and even on to the edges of the pages of a book!
 

 

 

Large limited edition prints, by John Neville Cohen, Madam Butterfly, Butterfly wing, Profile portrait,

Madam Butterfly

 

 

'Preacher' by John Neville Cohen

Preacher

 

 

He built up a collection of around 75 studies that led to over 20 One-Man Exhibitions of his photographs (some sponsored by Kodak) in New York, London, The Edinburgh Festival, and many other UK & USA Cities.  At Photo Expo (famous photographers were lucky to have 3 pictures included at 'Photo Expo 68') but a wall of over 60 pictures was devoted to John.


"..regarded as one of Britain's most original photographers"  The Times.

"A woman's face was exquisitely metamorphosed with the cup of a yellow tulip - a Femme - Fleur Picasso might have perpetrated had he taken to photography”  
Arts Revue. 

A number of newspaper and photographic magazine articles were published and his art even attracted the attention of such famous names as Cecil Beaton C.B.E., Sir William Russell Flint R.A., Sir George F. Pollock Bt., M.A., and Lady Clementine Spencer Churchill amongst many others. 

Evidence - See Press Cuttings & Letters
 

'Flower Maiden' by John Neville Cohen

Flower Maiden



'Sea Nymph's Mirror' by John Neville Cohen

Sea Nymph's Mirror

John has openly explained that he often starts with an idea and then experiments with various images, but sometimes something unforeseen happened, that sends him down a totally fresh route to create a very different picture than the one he originally planned, often it has been these ‘inspired accidents’ that have since turned out to be his most valued artworks. 

Recently a young art critic wrote "John N. Cohen's artwork incorporates several genres--ready-made objects, digital photography, and Impressionist style of light painting - to create a striking and surreal effect that has a strong impact upon the viewer”  
Claudia Moscovici.

"Indeed, since the photographic image is made by the action of light, truth to light is truth to the medium of photography! All John Cohen's photographs are made, simply and solely, by the use of light. His magic is the magic of the luminous; his poetry is that of the chiaroscuro. The attractions of his work is all the greater for the purity of the photographic technique, and its appeal all the more universal for being couched in an imagery common to all men and intelligible to all”.   
Sir George F. Pollock Bt., M.A., F.R.P.S., F.R.S.A. (Past President of The Royal Photography Society).

Kodak Exhibition Centre, Grand Central Station, New York.

Kodak Press Release Page 2


Kodak New York Press Release 1968


John started promoting his high-quality limited edition prints only since he retired and in a relatively short period of time, he has acquired quite a following on LinkedIn, Facebook, and at various other art sites on the Internet, like Flickr, where so many have chosen his pictures as 'favourites'.

"I love these, John. Can imagine them large scale in a white room - would look fantastic!"  Rachel Glittenberg Facebook

"Hi John, I am so pleased to have come across your page, your work is sensationally sophisticated and so softly intense, you have a unique personal talent for expressing visually moments of being and emotional journeys, sincerest congratulations on your excellent artistic technique, xx   you are such a talent John"  Monica Martinelli-Richmond Facebook

"Stunning image!  Your work is amazing!  Your work is extraordinary and very inspirational!"  emellin66 Flickr

"really beautiful and magical. love the composition."   
Galerie-Morgenstern Flickr


With so much success in the 1960’s one might well wonder why John is not by now far better known. There is a reason; John was involved in the family business, running an independent chain of specialist cinemas; he had become a director, having started as a projectionist, and was responsible for the ‘front of house’ publicity and he really enjoyed the business he was in. His photography in those days, even with all the success he had, was still simply his hobby!

Later with family commitments and so many more business demands, his photography was put aside. Although when the family business was sold, because of the impact of video and large rent increases, he set up and ran a commercial photographic and design studio. John also gave a number of lectures to various photographic societies, in the early days, explaining exactly how he achieved his results. His lectures were in great demand and he always had a good reception. Not only were most attending very enthusiastic, but even years later, hardly anyone has produced anything as interesting as his studies. John also made this information freely available on his website in his article titled 'The Magic Lantern'.
 

'Roller' by John Neville Cohen

Roller

John is now well over 80 and is still currently creating pictures (one of the latest is 'Roller').  His pictures certainly cause interest, adding a bright new dimension to any wall.  So sophisticated, always a talking point, appealing to all age groups. 

'Montmartre' by John Neville Cohen

Montmartre

One must not forget that John's reality photography is outstanding too (as can be seen in 'Montmartre') and some of these are also published as limited-edition prints.

For serious art buyers and art lovers there are still some of the prints for sale. To buy an artwork by John, it is still possible to purchase a print, although they are limited to only 8 of each picture.  Not yet one of the big names, but these pictures do have great investment potential and now is the best time for astute buyers to buy.
 

"Art Galleries refer to me as a photographer, but photographers refer to me as an Artist!"

John Neville Cohen.


Keywords: #johnnevillecohen, #projectionphotography #limitededition #largeprints #paintingwithlight #lightpainting #specialeffects #Kodachrome #photography #paintingwithlight #film #portraits #johnnevillecohen #analoguephotography #creativephotography #conceptual #surreal #dramatic #fantasy #expressionist #artisticphotography #visualartsart #artworks #contemporary #impressionist #photographer #technique, #pictures, #photoexpo, #kodak, #kodachrome, 
 

F
or Much More About John: -

John Neville Cohen’s web https://www.jncohen.net/index.htm

Reviews and Exhibitions Reviews.htm

Sir George Pollock Introduction Introduction.htm

YouTube John talks about 'Painting with Light' https://www.youtube.com/user/jncohen40

LinkedIn  https://es.linkedin.com/in/johnncohen 

Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/john_n_cohen/sets/72157623122863068/

Twitter  https://twitter.com/JohnNCohen 

Interviews:  Artpromotive Feb 2012   Leap May 2012

Facebook Fan Page https://en-gb.facebook.com/pages/Painting-With-Light/208903157734

Fine Art America https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/john-neville-cohen.html




John Cohen’s websites: - 

Asian Antiques, Photography and Classic Cars  https://www.jncohen.net

Antique Reference: Japanese Netsuke, Inro, Chinese Snuff Bottles, Pendants, Jade https://www.jncohen.com

History of Jacey Cinemas Ltd and Joseph Cohen
https://www.jncohen.net/JaceyGroup/JosephCohen.htm

A Very Special Stamp Collecting Album
https://www.jncohen.net/Stamp-Collecting/index.htm


Classic Jensen Cars from the early 1960's
https://www.jncohen.net/Jensen.htm

John Neville Cohen’s contact details https://www.jncohen.net/Contact.htm