Peter G. Balazsy most certainly is a very popular and accomplished photographer, operating a studio in northern New Jersey, just 15 miles from Manhattan. There are eight galleries on the web presenting his photographic works - besides his own ever growing homepage. His photographic career however is not really typical: It's only about 6 years ago now, that he began shooting photos and creating artistic imagery. But the success was sudden and overwhelming: Just 3 months after creating his first Polaroid "image-transfers", these works were being exhibited in about 15 local galleries in the New York and New Jersey area.


As a young boy he was much more interested in helicopters and parachutes than photography. He later studied electronics in the Army in the early 60's. In Thailand, as a young soldier in 1963, he helped set up an anti-communist propaganda broadcast radio station. He learned to understand about cultural differences and appreciated life as he had had it back in the States. In reflection, he says, "I saw the most abject poverty daily. ...and meaningless deaths, disease, and fear."

When asked how he might describe his character, he says that he has always been a very "positive" person.


This is quite remarkable for someone who was severely burned on the right half of his body and face; with only partial use of his left hand as well as suffering the loss of all his fingers on his right hand, in a tragic auto accident fire in 1979. He endured many long months in hospitals and rehabilitation. After 7 reconstruction operations, he now comments, humorously, about how his face was grafted with skin from his backside. Appreciative of his "second chance" at life; sadly, he recalls the loss of his girlfriend in this accident, and ponders "why her and not me"?

The tremendous emotional strain, combined with his injuries and all the work of trying to get back to "life as usual," was great cause for reflection. "I now, take the time to "smell the roses." I find, however, that I have remained, very much the same, positive, person that I always was. I have a never say die attitude." Learning to write again, now as a "lefty", he discovered his signature remained remarkably the same. "It seems, we make the characters in our mind, not our hands. The hands and fingers are only slaves to our brain's instructions. I can do most anything now, ...so, I've learned to get along with ..whatever tools I have left."


When I first discovered his homepage and saw his images, I was touched and fascinated, and at once made up my mind to ask Peter, if he would allow me to present some of them in The Gallery. In comparison to other popular photos on the web, if one is a passionate surfer and likes to view various forms of photography, you will easily find a lot of experimental works almost everywhere on the web. There are many of these other photo-works manipulated by graphic software, though amazing at first sight, even eye catching, but there remains a dull aftertaste, due to the preponderance of technical manipulation without message or content. Peter's images, however, are of a different nature. His editing techniques, especially the Image Transfer Art, are not only perfectly matched with the motifs, but they consolidate the atmosphere and visual impression of the "pure" photo.


These experimental works are artistic virgin soil -- although photographers have always experimented and tried to transcend the simple imitation of reality: David Hamilton's soft-focus, Ernst Haas' blurred motifs of movement, photos shot without camera and photos painted over. The era of digital imaging and more and more sophisticated graphical software, however, now makes it too easy for anybody to manipulate photos and give the impression of "works of art." Not quite easy to separate the grain from the chaff. Without doubt, Peter G. Balazsy's works are no pure eye catchers or "l'art pour l'art.


A quotation, (perhaps from Confucius,) describes Peter's opinion about his work, which is a great pleasure too: "Find a job you love, ...and you'll never work another day in your life." He thinks that he has been very fortunate in this regard. "I have always loved my work. Electronics, Computers, Webpage design and Photo/Artist." This "joie de vivre" can be felt and experienced by visitors as they explore each of his images. We are very proud to present some of them in our gallery. Enjoy the exhibit! And if you feel like viewing more: Visit his homepage: Peter G. Balazsy: Image Transfer Art



Copyright for all photos:
Peter G. Balazsy, New Jersey
Exhibit Design and Interview:
Gerd Marstedt, The Fine Site

All images are copyrighted and protected, please no copying or use on the WWW without permission