The concept I have been working on I refer to as Photonality. It is basically a visual form of the language of music. I have been using the format of jazz music and performances, integrated with the properties of photography. This platform is not new to the art of music and painting. The concept of Photonality came from a quote by saxophonist and M-Base collective creator Steve Coleman. He stated, referring to the M-Base collective, "I am only the catalyst and portal through which the energy that is holding this particular incarnation of individuals respond to these vibrations by opening themselves to these creative energies, and that is what makes it a collective on this plane of existence." --Steve Coleman.

I have taken this and expanded that jazz performance and interpretation to another instrument, the camera, acting within the parameters of the music and by composing a movement within a geometric form to create a tonal dimension around an axis. The positive and negative within these geometrics form to create intervals between tones. The movement of light and form around the axis, as in dance, creates a melodic flow. The artist act of working the camera becomes an intricate part of the final composition. It is my belief that the medium of photography is at the threshold where the Abstract Expressionist were moving. The performance is an intricate part of the creation of the work. The music is interpreted through a geo math metric cubist/expressionist improv within an abstract dimension. Movement and space, light and form weave reality into an abstract dimension of the music. These are all the properties of Photonality. Taken through the camera's lens to the artist's inner eye for interpretation.

Exhibitions: 1978-1994

• Gloucester County College, N.J.
• Woodmere Art Museum, Chestnut Hill, PA.
• Newman Galleries, Philadelphia
• Treen Gallery, N.J.
• Accessories Gallery, Mullica Hill, N.J.
• Prestige Gallery, N.J.
• Kammer Gallery, Philadelphia
• Free Library of Philadelphia
• Corrider Press
• Philadelphia Print Club Annual
• Armory Exhibition sponsered by P.A.F.A.
• Philadelphia Museum of Art, Sales and Rental Gallery
• Galleries in Philadelphia, PA., Taos, N.M. Phoenix, Arizona, Los Angeles, Chicago, Ill.)
• Collections: Blue Cross, First Interstate Bank of America, Dupont Corp., Corrider Press, Woodmere Art Museum, Pheonix Museum of Art, Indian Wells, City Hall, Campbells Collection, Mr.and Mrs. Phil Jamison, Leonard Baskin Collection, Celtic Press, Franklin Plaza, Philadelphia, Numerous private collections Nationally

Visit Tom's website at http://www.photonality.com.

All photos copyright © Tom Priemon.
All Rights Reserved.

Ravi Coltrane - This piece is from the cover of the book project "Tones in Black and White", which moves within a geometric sound and tonal dimension.

Cindy Blackman - This work is from the book project "A Van Gogh for Cindy", and visually takes you thru the rythmic sound of Cindy's drum playing.

T.S. Monk - This is the cover photograph for the book project "T.S. Monk, son of the legendary jazz pianist Thelonius Monk, with a fusionist approach.

Monk and Byrd - This is also from the book project on T.S. Monk taking the viewer within the spaces of this fusion of sound Monk creates with noted trumpeter Winston Byrd and Willie Williams on tenor sax.

Modular Theatre - This is a piece from the book project "Modular Theatre", a movement within space and sound from Ralph Alessi's avante garde group.

Frank Ku-Umba Lacy - These two works are from the book project "Ku-Umba" a visual path to the tonal weights and sounds of bone genius Frank Ku-Umba Lacy.

Satoko Fujii - This is a work from the book project "Satoka Fujii", a visionary exploration into the avante garde improv world of the sound of pianist and composer Satoko Fujii.

Cuong Vu - A piece from the visionary book project "Vu's Opus", which moves with in the sounds of the music called jazz and the very edge of all music.

Vu's Opus - This is the cover photograph for the book project "vu's Opus", a visionary path within the very soul of the music of trumpeter and composer Cuong Vu.