Roaming The Niagara Frontier

Bio

James Neiss is an internationally published award winning photojournalist at the Niagara Gazette, a daily newspaper in Niagara Falls, N.Y. In this role for more than 25 years, Neiss has had the opportunity to photograph many high profile people and events from daredevils going over Niagara Falls, to Presidents of the United States. However, the words he believes that best describe his vocation are "community photographer."

Neiss has lived through the industry transformation from wet darkroom to digital imaging, often taking a leadership role in effecting the transition at the Niagara Gazette and bringing his pioneering spirit and skills to friends and colleagues as Webmaster of the National Press Photographers Association in the late 1990’s.

James Neiss was born in Buffalo, N.Y. on a cold January day in 1960. In 1979 he became a student of photography as a senior in High School and continues to be so to this day.

Artist Statement

“My good eye is open again,” I tell my wife. I’m passionate about the search and fascinated by the rush of a good capture. I can’t turn it off, gotta do it again and again. Seeing what’s askew now makes sense and tickles my funny bone; I try to see what no one else sees, then share it with family, friends and strangers.

As a young man in high school witnessing my first photo develop in a pan, being introduced to the masters and learning to see “different” composition in college, little did I know what a life long love affair with “seeing” it would begin. Just like any relationship there was pure joy at the start, then a settling of sorts, combined with daily ups and downs over 30-plus years as a photojournalist at the Niagara Gazette Newspaper.

Interest in my career path and creativity level began waning after I turned 50. There are so many rules and constraints regarding photo manipulation in photojournalism and it was looking like a bad long-term path financially. (Let’s blame the Internet) I witness friends and colleagues with decades of experience summarily dismissed, or decide to leave for more security in another field. I stayed, adapted, found renewed interest in art imagery and now live happily in two different worlds of photography.

“A fire only takes a spark, a glimpse out of the corner of your eye often requires a double take, let the next composition begin,” I say.

After 53 years it’s time to “embrace the different,” again.

-- James Neiss