Through Different Lenses: The Shared Vision of Bob Merco and Jeffry Moore

Through Different Lenses: The Shared Vision of Bob Merco and Jeffry Moore

By Amanda Armstrong

with additions from the artist bio / statements

Photography Storytelling

The photography storytelling of Bob Merco and Jeffry Moore, while stylistically distinct, shares a unifying thread: a profound respect for storytelling through the lens. Their approaches may diverge—one capturing the quiet remnants of forgotten places, the other creating vivid, calculated odes to nostalgia—but both artists offer an intimate glimpse into how photography preserves and shapes our relationship with time.

Merco’s work feels like a meditation on impermanence. His images of decaying buildings and forgotten landscapes evoke a sense of quiet wonder, inviting viewers to pause and reflect on the beauty of what remains when time takes its toll. His photographs are less about the subjects themselves and more about the stories they hint at—the lives lived within those crumbling walls, the echoes left behind in neglected corners. Merco captures the poetry of decay, framing the passage of time not as loss, but as transformation.

Moore’s photography, in contrast, is vibrant and deliberate, a celebration of the energy and aesthetics of bygone eras. His “Project 88,” with its bold use of color gels, silhouettes, and strobe lighting, reimagines the 1970s with a modern twist. Where Merco lets time reveal itself naturally, Moore carefully constructs his images, using light and shadow like brushstrokes to evoke a mood, a memory, or a story. His work exudes confidence and precision, a testament to the meticulous art of “getting it right” before the shutter clicks.

What unites these two artists is their shared dedication to craftsmanship and their ability to find meaning in the details. Both approach their work with an intentionality that goes beyond surface aesthetics. For Merco, it’s the hours spent exploring forgotten places to uncover their hidden beauty. For Moore, it’s the careful pre-visualization and technical mastery required to bring his concepts to life. Each, in their own way, treats photography as both an art form and a method of preservation—Merco preserving the quiet echoes of the past and Moore reviving the bold energy of eras gone by.

Together, their work offers a compelling dialogue: a reminder that photography, whether spontaneous or calculated, has the power to transform how we see the world. Through Merco and Moore’s lenses, we are invited to consider both what is left behind and what can be reimagined, finding beauty in both the forgotten and the deliberately crafted. In their differences, they reveal the endless possibilities of the medium, and in their shared vision, they remind us of photography’s timeless purpose—to capture, interpret, and connect.

Bob Merco

BOB MERCO 

Photographer / Filmmaker 

Bob Merco's journey into photography and filmmaking began unexpectedly in the vibrant chaos of Times Square, New York. Armed with a cheap rangefinder camera purchased at a local electronics store, he immersed himself in the energy of the city, capturing its dynamic life with raw enthusiasm. However, an early mistake—opening the camera back before rewinding the film—turned into an unintended lesson in the unpredictability of the medium. That experience only deepened his fascination with the art, sparking a career that has evolved over the years. Merco’s diverse body of work spans editorial photography, model portfolios, and street photography, but it is his passion for the forgotten and abandoned corners of America that now defines much of his artistic vision. He spends countless hours exploring the back roads and hidden landscapes of the country, seeking out decaying structures and overlooked places that time and neglect have slowly claimed. These quiet, fading locations offer a poignant reminder of the passage of time and the inevitable return of human creations to nature. Through his lens, Merco invites viewers into these lost spaces, allowing them to witness the beauty in decay and the power of forgotten stories. 

His photography and films are a reflection of a lifelong pursuit to capture the fleeting, the overlooked, and the hidden moments that define both the world and his artistic journey. 

Jeffry Moore

 Old photographers always say,'' Back in the Day’’.

   Back in the day, we had to make everything right before putting the image on film.  We used polaroid to check lighting, exposure and to clean up anything that was needed.  “The final shot” was then put on film.  We used transparency film which went to color separations for printing.  It may have had some touch ups, however there wasn’t Photoshop or filters so the photograph was final. 

I am old school and create each photograph to be a straight shot ready to be printed.  

   My projects are always a pre visual  exercise.  I name my projects with a number as none are the same.  “Project 88’’ is my throwback to the 1970’s of go go dancers great colors and mud flaps.  It is inspired by Maggie May whose number is “8”.  Using strobes with color gels got the color, and bouncing the light off the background created the beautiful silhouette.

   Thank you Ted for the invitation, Maggie for your patience and Blo Back Gallery.

Jeffry Moore