Tessa Beligue has many fine qualities as a photographer. Technically, especially with regards to post production, she is extremely skilful. What truly sets Tessa apart, however, is the subtle way that she uses this particular talent. She understands not only what an image requires to elevate it from the ordinary but al… Read more

Tessa Beligue has many fine qualities as a photographer. Technically, especially with regards to post production, she is extremely skilful. What truly sets Tessa apart, however, is the subtle way that she uses this particular talent. She understands not only what an image requires to elevate it from the ordinary but also which techniques are superfluous. With Tessa contributing only the lightest and surest of touches, her photographs are allowed fully to be themselves.This results in a series of organic images grounded in the place and time they were shot, rather than in a digital darkroom. Truthfully though, if this was the only attribute that Tessa possessed she wouldn't stand out from the crowd in the way that she does. Allied to her technical ability, she brings to the table the instinctual eye of a true photographer, a rarer gift that can't be taught but only honed through repeated application and dedication to one's craft. This eye, this instinctual gift for photography, can be seen in every facet of Tessa's photographic process - from what she shoots to how she shoots it - and it makes her the accomplished photographer she is.You can see this very clearly, for example, in how she composes each image, the surefooted imposition of a frame creating tension and ambiguity, making each photograph seem completely right, as if it was already made before she came along and plucked it out of the ether. What impresses me most about Tessa's work, and makes me jealous of her too, is something that I find hard to define and almost impossible to replicate. There seems to be some sort of photographic alchemy going on which imbues her work with an emotional honesty and punch that goes beyond her technical attributes and even her natural abilities. It's as if her camera sensor is capable of capturing emotions as well as light and this makes you feel each image, experience it, turning the passive act of looking into something much more immersive and personal.

I stumbled across Tessa's work one evening, when my eye was caught by a fantastic night cityscape. I found myself looking through more and more of her photos, and enjoying the unfolding story of a photographer's exploring of her world, and her craft. Tessa, through her photos, shares views of the city that I suspe… Read more

I stumbled across Tessa's work one evening, when my eye was caught by a fantastic night cityscape. I found myself looking through more and more of her photos, and enjoying the unfolding story of a photographer's exploring of her world, and her craft. Tessa, through her photos, shares views of the city that I suspect most of her fellow inhabitants never notice. These are not postcard shots, but glimpses of an intriguing world I yearn to see more of. Her adventurous spirit shows in her explorations, both physical and artistic. While I was initially I was attracted to her cityscapes, Tessa has also surprised and impressed me with her varied and always interesting portraits. Tessa shows deft use of light and composition in her work. Tessa is a thoughtful and inventive photographer, and I appreciate having her as a contact and that I have the chance to experience the world she shares through her photos.

I met Tessa Beligue In May of 2011 on my way to do some light painting with some of my other photographer friends. Immediately she spotted us with cameras and we all began chatting about photography. I could tell right away that she was passionate about the subject and her pictures reflect just that. I think the most t… Read more

I met Tessa Beligue In May of 2011 on my way to do some light painting with some of my other photographer friends. Immediately she spotted us with cameras and we all began chatting about photography. I could tell right away that she was passionate about the subject and her pictures reflect just that. I think the most thing I like about Tess is her artistic eye which makes her compositions wonderful and her Black and whites Dramatic. Her POV and the use of her DOF are always amazing. The way she works with the light is incredible and from the looks of her portraits she seems to really relax the people she shoots. From my experience people naturally put up a mask (so to speak) when they see a camera and I think Tess does a great job at making people feel relaxed around her enough to let that guard down and in doing so she captures a sort of innocence or some emotion depicted that makes you feel really in the moment while your looking at it. Keep up the great work Tess. P.S The website looks great :)

The ability to interpret light is without question the first & foremost of the many skills a first-rate photographer must bring to her craft. I've been following Tessa Beligue's work for some time now, & in the midst of a community of very talented photographers her work stands out as exceptional. She's one of the sele… Read more

The ability to interpret light is without question the first & foremost of the many skills a first-rate photographer must bring to her craft. I've been following Tessa Beligue's work for some time now, & in the midst of a community of very talented photographers her work stands out as exceptional. She's one of the select few who understands the fundamentals of light well enough to break traditional rules, & in doing so, create new ones. Low level image-making with flash is one of photography's thorniest (not to mention mundane) problems. How does the photographer provide depth, subtlety & nuance to an image lighted by heads-on burst of pale bright light & virtually nothing else? How do we transform snapshots into photographs without the use of a portable studio, assistants & at least a half-dozen strategically placed flashheads? Tessa's approach avoids altogether attempts by more conventional photographers (such as yours truly) to pretend there's more ambient light available by combining flash with slow shutters or nosebleed high ISOs. She puts her subject into the fore, fills the frame with it & then lights in new & surprising ways. The effect maximizes interest & provides real dynamism that engages & challenges the viewer. All of this is not to say that Tessa doesn't handle longer exposures with aplomb. She does. Her views of the GW Bridge at night are some of the best I've seen, with superb color rendition, depth of field & composition. Tessa's vision, whether the subject is actor headshots, fine art or experiments with light, is always unique & utterly fascinating. I felt quite honored when she set me as one of her Flickr contacts & now I always look forward to seeing her latest images. andy katz