The Quiet after the Storm

A short behind-the-scenes video is available here.
 
I was in Philadelphia for a show, when at 3am, unable to sleep, I finally gave up and went out for a walk. At 4am I found myself walking along the Schuylkill River Trail in East Fairmount Park, enjoying the peace and visual delights - the quaint corners, old sculptures and lush gardens. With my senses heightened, and with so much stimulating scenery, I couldn't help but turn into a full on photo-scouting machine.
I came upon a bench next to the the Reading Railroad Bridge with a nice view and had a seat to take a break. The more I looked, the more I liked what I saw. I got up and stepped back and with my spine tingling and dawn beginning to light the sky, I knew I had found what I was looking for.
Built in 1856 the bridge (aka the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad,  aka the Schuylkill River Viaduct, aka! the Falls Rail Bridge) has so much character. With the old stone arches and the ivy growing on it, it looks like something they brought over from Europe. But Philly is a very, very old city, founded in 1682 by William Penn, an English Quaker, so we've got our own old Europe right here. 
Maybe not coincidentally, in 1854, with the rise in population of the surrounding districts, the Act of Consolidation was enacted, which extended the city limits from 2 square miles to roughly 134 square miles and the bridge was built soon afterward.
 
"In none of his photos does Nuez exploit the obvious" 
Montreal Gazette
"Seductive ... Nuez's photos do not leave one indifferent"
Ciel Variable - Contemporary Photography magazine
 
Light Paintings series
 
I sometimes fantasize that with the snap of a finger, I can escape reality ... in a moment, be transported to a dream world free of life's demands, a child's playground where magic exists and all is right with the world.My Light Paintings are that portal. Through them I can transcend reality and escape into these beautiful, vibrant yet peaceful realms.
 
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Although there is some digital manipulation in this series, the unusual lighting and surreal quality in the Light Painting series is achieved by using colored lights during long exposures. They are not digital effects.