Featured Artists: Kirk Shorte & Kristi Kranz
Featured Cover Artist: Kirk Shorte
Kirk Shorte is an avid professional photographer who captures the unique beauty and life of Hawai‘i Island in his images. A resident of Kailua-Kona since 2004, Kirk grew up in Belmar, New Jersey where, at age 10, he found a discarded but still-working Brownie camera in his grandfather’s attic. He was hooked. A life’s fascination with photography was born.
Having multiple interests, Kirk’s aspirations as a draftsman, guitar player, and photographer were interrupted when he joined the US Navy on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 1969. Post-Navy, Kirk returned to work as a draftsman at Bell Labs in Holmdel, New Jersey, and then in Sunnyvale, California in 1979.
Throughout his business career, Kirk held increasingly responsible management positions with Hewlett Packard, Apple Computer and Sun Microsystems. “I was enmeshed in extraordinary visual technology. That experience fueled my development as an artist-on-film,” says Kirk.
When Kirk moved to Hawai‘i, he had no real intention to become a professional photographer. He thought of himself as a snap-shooter with good gear. “I had a nice Minolta 7xi SLR film camera… [and] I always took photos using the program settings, I never ventured into the manual settings. So my photos were always as good as the camera could produce with the given light sources,” explains Kirk.
While Kirk was working at Jack’s Diving Locker as marketing director, he volunteered to help manage the annual Kona Classic Underwater Photo contest. There he met several professional photographers who were the judges of the contest, and photographer Marty Snyderman. Kirk comments, “I learned a lot from Marty. In addition to Marty, I befriended two of Jack’s best employee photographers who gave me many tips on how to shoot better photos and how to venture into the land of manual shooting.”
Kirk grew serious about creating quality photography as art. He participated in dozens of workshops, had some excellent mentoring by accomplished masters, and formed his photography business in 2010.
Kirk reflects on his passion for the art of photography, “There is something mesmerizing about sunlight dancing off an object or discovering the almost magical scenes that surround us in Hawai‘i—to feel the rush that comes just before I’m able to capture that perfect shot. I get excited when what I’ve visualized can be captured and shared with the world that way the public can participate in discovering the gems I see and transform into my art.”
Through the years, as Kirk was able to spend more time on photography, he built his business out of what was once a hobby. “Now I have repeat clients and have focused my business to a mix of events, portraits, and real estate photography,” says Kirk.
As part of his commitment to the community, Kirk is the current president of the Kona Camera Club, a position he has held for the past four years.
“My biggest thrill comes when I’ve captured that perfect shot and I discover that it has touched and enriched the lives of other people. This vein spans my life; it has helped me to grow and to reinvent myself. It is especially evident in my fine art photography,” shares Kirk.
For more information:
kirkshorte.com
Instagram: ksrealestatephotography
Table of Contents Artist: Kristi Kranz
Kristi Kranz, silk painter and water-colorist, captures light and movement on luminous silk with transparent dyes. Living in Hawi, in North Kohala, Kristi’s artwork can be found at Harbor Gallery in Kawaihae, Ackerman Gallery in Kapa‘au, As Hawi Turns in Hawi, and Colette’s Custom Framing in Kona. She welcomes custom orders.
Kristi was the featured cover artist in Ke Ola Magazine’s second issue, February-March 2009, available at issuu.com/keolamagazine/docs/h2009-1
For more information: kranzsilk@gmail.com
