The Legacy of Feeny’s Photo
1982 - Daniel Allen Cohen’s grandparents, Marcel and Feeny Verdooner Opening Feeny’s Photo, a visionary photo lab in Northridge, California.
1994 - The Northridge Earthquake put an abrupt halt on the business, and it has since been closed.
2019 - Inspired by his grandparents’ beloved business, Daniel Cohen set out to create an intimate project bringing photography back to its physical roots while preserving his family’s legacy. What emerged from Cohen’s inspiration is the reopening of Feeny’s Photo after 25 years. In collaboration with five talented photographers, the reimagined photo lab makes its debut at the LA Art Show.
“I was inspired by the story of how my grandparents printed other photographers’ pictures in an era where there was no digital camera,” Cohen said. “After being out of business for 25 years, I decided to bring the family business back to life with a focus in the contemporary art world.”
Technology has led to digital trends in photography, initiating cycles where the art of the physical photo has faded. Most of the photos we view are digitized on social media or on the internet, often overlooked as we quickly scroll past.
“Myself and others would agree that we’ve missed having something physical and tangible to hold on to, whether it's a 3x5 photograph or a Polaroid picture,” Cohen said. “Our old “vintage” pictures are boxed up in storage as we’ve been in this digital era of photography for the last two decades.”
This project preserves the imaginative nature of photography with the help of five innovative photographers, each with their own unique styles and methods.
“The truth is there hasn’t been a great deal of innovation in how photography is presented in the contemporary and fine art world,” Cohen said.
Feeny’s Photo will alter the way viewers look at photography. A multi-stepped printing and sculpting technique perfected by Cohen led to the creation of vivid 3D displays, completely unique to anything in the industry. It is common for an artist to ride trends or stick to the course in order to make the quickest dollar, but Daniel Cohen refuses to fall victim to the tendencies of others.
“I know that the photography and art world has not seen anything like what Feeny’s Photo is creating,” he said. “I guess you can say that we are being pretty disruptive in a space in the art world that needs a breath of fresh air. “
Artist Statement
This project is completely different from my other art that I’ve created in the past. Viewers will be captivated by the emotion and the power the pieces evoke.
What this debut marks is the showcase of something new. In a world where original concepts are hard to find, I’m proud to say this is something that nobody has seen or done before.
I stand proud, behind the hard work and dedication to create these pieces. I have amazing friends and photographers that have helped me along the way. Feeny’s Photo isn’t about me, it’s about the photographers, my family, and leaving a legacy behind for the future generations to love, cherish, and be inspired by.
- Daniel Cohen
About the Photographers
It’s not just about their photography, it’s also about who they are as a person. One key thing I look for is the story that’s being told in the photographs. There has to be a narrative where the images together evoke certain feelings and emotions out of the viewers.
I’ve known all of the photographers for less than a year. I met each of them in an organic way through friends or by chance. For the first few months it was all about getting to know who they are on a personal level. After that, I connected and re-connected throughout the year discussing story boards, concepts, and viewing their photos.
Throughout 2018, I reached out to a few other photographers that I expressed interest in working with, and started talking with some in detail about working together. Some of these photographers had egos and blew me off or didn’t see the vision of Feeny’s Photo.
The point is, I’m happy and proud of the photographers I’ve partnered with for Feenys Photo. The ones that didn’t get it early on will eventually see what we’ve created and wish their egos didn't get in the way.
- Daniel Cohen
1982 - Daniel Allen Cohen’s grandparents, Marcel and Feeny Verdooner Opening Feeny’s Photo, a visionary photo lab in Northridge, California.
1994 - The Northridge Earthquake put an abrupt halt on the business, and it has since been closed.
2019 - Inspired by his grandparents’ beloved business, Daniel Cohen set out to create an intimate project bringing photography back to its physical roots while preserving his family’s legacy. What emerged from Cohen’s inspiration is the reopening of Feeny’s Photo after 25 years. In collaboration with five talented photographers, the reimagined photo lab makes its debut at the LA Art Show.
“I was inspired by the story of how my grandparents printed other photographers’ pictures in an era where there was no digital camera,” Cohen said. “After being out of business for 25 years, I decided to bring the family business back to life with a focus in the contemporary art world.”
Technology has led to digital trends in photography, initiating cycles where the art of the physical photo has faded. Most of the photos we view are digitized on social media or on the internet, often overlooked as we quickly scroll past.
“Myself and others would agree that we’ve missed having something physical and tangible to hold on to, whether it's a 3x5 photograph or a Polaroid picture,” Cohen said. “Our old “vintage” pictures are boxed up in storage as we’ve been in this digital era of photography for the last two decades.”
This project preserves the imaginative nature of photography with the help of five innovative photographers, each with their own unique styles and methods.
“The truth is there hasn’t been a great deal of innovation in how photography is presented in the contemporary and fine art world,” Cohen said.
Feeny’s Photo will alter the way viewers look at photography. A multi-stepped printing and sculpting technique perfected by Cohen led to the creation of vivid 3D displays, completely unique to anything in the industry. It is common for an artist to ride trends or stick to the course in order to make the quickest dollar, but Daniel Cohen refuses to fall victim to the tendencies of others.
“I know that the photography and art world has not seen anything like what Feeny’s Photo is creating,” he said. “I guess you can say that we are being pretty disruptive in a space in the art world that needs a breath of fresh air. “
Artist Statement
This project is completely different from my other art that I’ve created in the past. Viewers will be captivated by the emotion and the power the pieces evoke.
What this debut marks is the showcase of something new. In a world where original concepts are hard to find, I’m proud to say this is something that nobody has seen or done before.
I stand proud, behind the hard work and dedication to create these pieces. I have amazing friends and photographers that have helped me along the way. Feeny’s Photo isn’t about me, it’s about the photographers, my family, and leaving a legacy behind for the future generations to love, cherish, and be inspired by.
- Daniel Cohen
About the Photographers
It’s not just about their photography, it’s also about who they are as a person. One key thing I look for is the story that’s being told in the photographs. There has to be a narrative where the images together evoke certain feelings and emotions out of the viewers.
I’ve known all of the photographers for less than a year. I met each of them in an organic way through friends or by chance. For the first few months it was all about getting to know who they are on a personal level. After that, I connected and re-connected throughout the year discussing story boards, concepts, and viewing their photos.
Throughout 2018, I reached out to a few other photographers that I expressed interest in working with, and started talking with some in detail about working together. Some of these photographers had egos and blew me off or didn’t see the vision of Feeny’s Photo.
The point is, I’m happy and proud of the photographers I’ve partnered with for Feenys Photo. The ones that didn’t get it early on will eventually see what we’ve created and wish their egos didn't get in the way.
- Daniel Cohen
