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The Universe In Your Backyard series developed from an immoderate curiosity about the nature of light and physical existence. I have always been wildly stimulated by scientific, philosophical, and artistic writings, particularly in the fields of quantum physics and quantum mechanics. I love mathematics. To me, it is the voice of the universe.

When I am quietly taking photographs - not naming or categorizing what I see - something mysterious emerges that is distinctly separate from three-dimensional reality. At these moments it becomes clear that everything, both here on Earth into the Grand Unknown, is linked by profound mutual correspondence.

The result of this experiment has become a photographic narrative organized sequentially by the passage of time. My favorite images in the series retain a sense of mystery, even when one knows they are composed of exceedingly-ordinary elements.

I was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1955. In 1956, my family relocated to Palo Alto, California. In 1963 we moved to San Diego, where I continue to live. I am married and have a son. Our family includes a dog and two cats; a butterfly lives on the outermost three planks of our wooden deck.

2005 | Book
Visions of Santa Fe - 100 Photographs of the City Different; Squarebooks Publishing, November 2005. Black-and-white image. Photographic exhibit and book signing, Friday, December 16, 2005, James Hart Gallery, 1410 Second Street, Santa Fe.

2004 | Exhibit
International Exhibition of Photography, Fine Arts Pavilion, Del Mar. Selection of color prints from The Universe In Your Backyard series; juried competition.

2001 | Project
The Universe In Your Backyard. Ongoing series of large color prints. An observation of the nature of light within the physical world; exhibited to international audiences in informal settings.

2001 | Project
The Banana Project. Series of large color prints. An exploration of conventional gender roles using still-life juxtapositions of traditionally-masculine objects within a feminine setting; not yet exhibited.

2000 | Exhibit
University of California, San Diego, The Art Annex. Black-and-white triptych; juried competition.

1999 | Installation
The Need To Be Seen. An installation designed for the Guggenheim in New York. Miniature lens embedded within a work of art focused on artwork's viewers. Lens connected by fiberoptic wiring to monocular device affixed on opposite wall, nearby; user to see artwork-viewer through device and within personal field of vision. My hypothesis is that over time museum-goers will place themselves in front of the lens-embedded artwork as 'actors'. An examination of the increasing tendency in our society to what I describe as 'neo-voyeurism': a compulsion to imagine oneself from a third-person perspective through being watched by others; not yet exhibited.

1998 | Exhibit
The Frame Maker Gallery, 'Beyond the Ground Glass - Emerging Artists'. Large-format black-and-white photographs; group exhibit.

1997 | Project
Dream Journal. Fifties-style photo album, small black-and-white photographs, handwritten text. Studying the effect of text on how photographic imagery is perceived; exhibited for peer review.

1996 | Exhibit
Artwalk San Diego, The Kettner Art Center. Black-and-white Rorschach-style collage; juried competition.

1995 | Exhibit
Grossmont College, Hyde Gallery. Multiple black-and-white photographs; group exhibit.

2004 | Santa Fe Workshops, New Mexico
Retreat for Creative Women, Elise Wiarda and Joyce Tenneson.

2002 | Santa Fe Workshops, New Mexico
Master Photoshop and Crafting the Fine Digital Print, John Paul Caponigro.

2002 | Santa Fe Workshops, New Mexico
Visual Poetry, Keith Carter.

1995 to present | Museum of Photographic Art, San Diego
Photographic Collage, Holly Roberts; Alternate Polaroid Processes, John Reuter; The Photograph As Narrative, Meridel Rubenstein; Photographic Criticism, Todd Gray; The Photographic Portrait, Keith Carter; and others.

1995 to present | Grossmont College, San Diego
Major: Photography.

1977 to present | University of California, San Diego
Major: Visual Arts - Studio.

In the Universe series, it is my intention to photograph light within an ordinary environment. I use digital technology to perform the traditional darkroom equivalents of dodging, burning, cropping, and flipping the image. Alteration to the original slide or digital capture, therefore, is minimal.

A number of these photographs were taken through the distortion of a glass block wall.

The black-and-white photographs are scanned and printed using the digital equivalents of traditional darkroom print processing methods. When creating portraits, my imagination has free rein.

Cameras: 35mm Nikon N70; Canon G2 Powershot. Film: Kodak E100VS Ektachrome E-6. Lenses: Three macro filters stacked atop a Tamron 28-70 VF lens; Nikkor microlens. Studio: Epson 2450 scanner; Mac G4; Epson 7600 with UltraChrome inks. Paper: Archival Hahnemuhle Photo Rag 308.

Prints are sold in limited editions of 50. Print pricing begins at $850, unframed. Prices increase every ten prints sold within the edition. Not all images on this web site are available for sale.

To receive a list of image availability, size, and pricing send your e-mail address or street address to: jkg@juliagill.com

This year, five percent of each sale is donated to The Boys and Girls Clubs of America. The donation recipient changes annually; the percentage of the donation does not.

My Favorite Artists

John Paul Caponigro
Gregory Colbert
Ellen Crocker
Luci Dumas
Lori Farr
Alexandra Hayes
Val Kim
Daksha Patel
John Reuter
Philipp Scholz Rittermann
Aline Smithson
Joyce Tenneson

Organizations

National Association of Women Artists, Member
Women In Creative Photography, President
San Diego Visual Arts Network, Member
Museum of Photographic Arts, Collectors Group

Website Design

Thank you to eJungle, an exceptionally-creative and easygoing website design firm. When I call, an actual human being answers the phone. It's truly remarkable. www.eJungle.us

To contact Julia Gill

Julia Gill Photography
P.O. Box 83621
San Diego, CA 92138-3621

E-mail: jkg@juliagill.com
Tel: 619.226.1670

All inquiries welcome.