Pictures of the imagination

According to the photographer, the 19th-century world was considerably more beautiful than our world today. "In this 21st-century world there is a lot more ugliness. So, you would think that there would be some kind of counterbalance to the ugliness, that people would desire or need to see beauty, but what's happening is the world is just being mirrored back on itself."

As a college undergraduate, Smith majored in English, thinking he might like to be a novelist. "I quickly realized that I might have the sentiment for it, but not the skill."

Shortly thereafter, he switched to the religious-studies program, which offered Smith the opportunity to consider and study ideas he believed to be important, such as "questions about human existence, who we are and why we are the way we are." The program was non-denominational, but having read Augustine, Aquinas and Plato, he found it suited him well.

"I was able to work out a program where they allowed me to have half my credits in the photography program and the other half in theology." Smith graduated with a master's degree in divinity in theology from Yale in 1973, but claims "that's the way I wanted it. I studied theology with the intention of being a photographer."

Smith used 35mm and large-format cameras in his early career days, but today he shoots almost every subject in medium format; and he never touches digital. "I shoot everything on film, and pretty much everything is done in camera. There is no retouching of the picture, except for maybe color correction when I shoot color." But this is rare, as Smith shoots black and white almost exclusively.

And while his impeccable craftsmanship and technique give him flawless images, it is Smith's unique visual language that has given him great success in the commercial world, with such clients as Saks Fifth Avenue, BMW, Ralph Lauren, American Express, Merrill Lynch, The New York City Ballet, and many others.

"Adam's Dream: The Photographs of Rodney Smith" is a journey through the imagination of a truly gifted artist. His images are mystical, mesmerizing and memorable, like something out of, or entering into, a dream.

This exhibit is not to be missed.

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If you go

What: "Adam's Dream: The Photographs of Rodney Smith"

Where: Brigham Young University Museum of Art, Provo

When: Through Jan. 16, 2006

Museum hours: Monday and Thursday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.;

Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.;

Saturday, noon-5 p.m.

How much: Free

Phone: 801-422-8256

Web: http://cfac.byu.edu/moa

Also: Tours are conducted during regular museum hours but must be scheduled at least one week in advance (801-422-1140)

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E-mail: gag@desnews.com