Robert Kawika Sheer was born in Anaheim, California, and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. He fell in love with photography as a high school freshman at Oahu’s Punahou School.
In 1981, Robert attended Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California, where he studied photography and earned a Bachelor of Communication Arts in 1985. Over the next 15 years, he developed his mastery of photography by taking various advanced photography classes at Santa Monica College. On an excursion to the Mojave Desert in 1999, Robert discovered the “Spirit Shadow” technique that soon had his fine art photographs hanging alongside the works of Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Henri Matisse, and Rembrandt.
Robert’s pictures are all performance-art photographs; no digital manipulation or multiple exposures are used in their creation. They’re all taken at night with long single exposures lasting from 45 minutes up to six hours using a large-format 4 x 5-inch view camera. After Robert opens the shutter of his camera, he enters the frame of his picture (sometimes accompanied by his wife Ingela) and becomes a performer within the scene. Because he is using low-intensity moonlight to slowly illuminate the nighttime scene, he is able to journey in front of the camera without the negative being able to record his movement.
In order to make it possible for you to see Robert’s presence in the form of a “Spirit Shadow,” he carries a small portable lighting device hidden in his hand and stands facing a wall. He quickly creates a circle of bright light on the wall and partially blocks the bounce of this light trying to reach back to the camera with his body. The result is a black silhouette surrounded by an illuminated aura. Over the course of the lengthy exposure, the moonlight makes the black silhouette translucent while it brightens the entire scene. Since the negative can’t see him moving around, once he creates one “Spirit Shadow,” there’s nothing stopping him from creating more “Spirit Shadows” on the same negative. As far as he knows, Robert is the only photographer in the world performing this style of photography.
Find original Robert Kawika Sheer photography on 1stDibs.
Landscape Photograph Contemporary Modern Performance Art Travel Spiritual Signed
By Robert Kawika Sheer
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Giant Sequoia Star Trail" is a limited edition long-exposure photograph signed by the artist Robert Kawika Sheer. This piece is signed by the artist in the lower right, and is editi...
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper
India Spirtual Dark Religious Supernatural Performance Photograph Outdoor Signed
By Robert Kawika Sheer
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"India Spirits, Rajasthan, India," is an original fine-art performance photograph by Robert Kawika Sheer, signed in the lower right and numbered in the lower left. The piece depicts an Indian shrine...
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper
Landscape Photograph Contemporary Modern Performance Art Travel Spiritual Signed
By Robert Kawika Sheer
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Graveyard Spirits" is an original fine-art performance photograph by Robert Kawika Sheer. This piece is signed in the lower right and editioned in the lower left. Edition: 64/250. T...
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper
Landscape Photograph Contemporary Modern Performance Art Travel Americana Signed
By Robert Kawika Sheer
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"The Herald Angel Prepares to Sing, Walt Disney Concert Hall - Los Angeles, CA," is an original fine-art performance photograph by Robert Kawika Sheer. The artist signed this piece i...
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper
Astrology Space Outdoors Landscape Night Stars Performance Photograph Sky Signed
By Robert Kawika Sheer
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"The Spirit of John Muir with Star Trails, Yosemite" is a performance chromogenic photograph created by Robert Kawika Sheer. The artist signed this work in the lower left and edition...
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper
Landscape Photograph Contemporary Modern Performance Art Travel Spiritual Signed
By Robert Kawika Sheer
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Spirits in Corkscrew Canyon" is an original fine-art photograph by Robert Kawika Sheer. This piece is signed in the lower right and editioned in the lower left. Edition 30/150. Shee...
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper
Landscape Photograph Contemporary Modern Performance Art Travel Spiritual Signed
By Robert Kawika Sheer
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"The Ocean Spirit, Pupukea, Oahu" is a long-exposure limited edition photograph by Robert Kawika Sheer. The artist signed this piece in the lower right and editioned it in the lower ...
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper
Landscape Photograph Contemporary Modern Performance Art Travel Spiritual Signed
By Robert Kawika Sheer
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Anza Borrego Spirit Shadows & Star-Trails" is an original fine-art photograph by Robert Kawika Sheer. The artist signed this piece in the lower right and editioned it in the low...
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper
Landscape Photograph Contemporary Modern Performance Art Travel Americana Signed
By Robert Kawika Sheer
Located in Milwaukee, WI
'Under the Manhattan Beach Pier No. 2' exemplifies the long-exposure photography of Robert Kawika Sheer. The artist signed this piece in the lower right and editioned it in the lower...
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper
Landscape Photograph Contemporary Modern Performance Art Travel Americana Signed
By Robert Kawika Sheer
Located in Milwaukee, WI
'Under the Manhattan Beach Pier No. 1' exemplifies the long-exposure photography of Robert Kawika Sheer. The artist signed this piece in the lower right and editioned in the lower le...
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper
Landscape Photograph Contemporary Modern Performance Art Hawaii Travel Signed
By Robert Kawika Sheer
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Pele Reigniting an Old Lava Flow" is an original fine-art performance photograph by Robert Kawika Sheer. The artist signed this piece in the lower right and editioned in the lower l...
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper
Landscape Photograph Contemporary Modern Performance Art Travel Galaxy Signed
By Robert Kawika Sheer
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Lake Powell Star Circles-North Star" is a long-exposure photograph by Robert Kawika Sheer. The artist signed this piece in the lower right and editioned in the lower left. Edition 2...
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper
Landscape Photograph Contemporary Modern Performance Art Hawaii Travel Signed
By Robert Kawika Sheer
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Three Hawaiian Spirits at Waikiki" is an original fine-art chromogenic photograph by Robert Kawika Sheer. The image is signed in the lower right and editioned in the lower left. Edi...
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper
Landscape Photograph Contemporary Modern Performance Art Travel Spiritual Signed
By Robert Kawika Sheer
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"The Spirits of Stonehenge" is an original fine-art photograph by Robert Kawika Sheer. The image is signed in the lower right and editioned in the lower left. Edition 51/250. The ima...
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper
Landscape Photograph Contemporary Modern Performance Art Travel Americana Signed
By Robert Kawika Sheer
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"The Fairy Princess Levitating Planes Into the Night Sky at LAX" is a long-exposure photograph by Robert Kawika Sheer. The artist signed this piece in the lower right and editioned i...
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper
Landscape Photograph Contemporary Modern Performance Art Travel Spiritual Signed
By Robert Kawika Sheer
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Angels at the Music Center Fountain" is an original fine-art photograph by Robert Kawika Sheer. The artist signed this piece in the lower right and editioned it in the lower left. E...
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper
Landscape Photograph Contemporary Modern Performance Art Travel Spiritual Signed
By Robert Kawika Sheer
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Spirits Honoring the Long Cypress No. 1" is an original fine-art photograph by Robert Kawika Sheer. This piece is signed in the lower right and editioned in the lower left. Edition ...
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper
Landscape Photograph Contemporary Modern Performance Art Hawaii Travel Signed
By Robert Kawika Sheer
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Three Hawaiian Spirits in a Lava Tube" is an original fine art photography print by Robert Kawika Sheer. The artist signed the piece in the lower right and editioned it in the lower...
Photographic Paper, Photographic Film
Landscape Photograph Contemporary Modern Performance Art Travel Galaxy Signed
By Robert Kawika Sheer
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Alien Signs at the Hollywood Sign" is an original fine-art photograph by Robert Kawika Sheer. This piece is signed in the lower right and editioned in the lower left. Edition: 34/250. The artist depicts the Hollywood sign from behind, showing the steel backing that holds up the H and the O. The city stretches out below the signs. In the lower left corner of the H sign...
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper
Landscape Photograph Contemporary Modern Performance Art Travel Spiritual Signed
By Robert Kawika Sheer
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Spirit Gondoliers, Venice, CA," is an original fine-art photograph by Robert Kawika Sheer. The image is signed in the lower right and editioned in the lower left. Edition: 45/250. T...
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper
Landscape Photograph Contemporary Modern Performance Art Travel Spiritual Signed
By Robert Kawika Sheer
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Spirits Dodging Fireworks at Lake Powell" is an original fine-art photograph by Robert Kawika Sheer. The artist signed this piece in the lower right and editioned it in the lower le...
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper
Landscape Photograph Contemporary Modern Performance Art Travel Americana Signed
By Robert Kawika Sheer
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"The History of Flight (Upon the LAX Sign)" is an original fine-art photograph created by Robert Kawika Sheer. The artist signed this piece in the lower right and editioned in the lo...
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper
Landscape Photograph Contemporary Modern Performance Art Travel Spiritual Signed
By Robert Kawika Sheer
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Spirits Honoring the Lone Cypress No. 2" is an original fine-art photograph by Robert Kawika Sheer. This piece is signed in the lower right and editioned in the lower left. Edition ...
Photographic Film, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper
Landscape Photograph Contemporary Modern Performance Art Travel Spiritual Signed
By Robert Kawika Sheer
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Mono Lake, Spirit Shadows No. 1," is an original fine-art performance photograph by Robert Kawika Sheer. The artist signed this piece in the lower right and editioned it in the lowe...
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper
Landscape Photograph Contemporary Modern Performance Art Travel Galaxy Signed
By Robert Kawika Sheer
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Aliens at Goblin Valley," is an original fine-art performance photograph by Robert Kawika Sheer. The artist signed the piece in the lower right and editioned it in the lower left. E...
Photographic Film, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper
Landscape Photograph Contemporary Modern Performance Art Travel Spiritual Signed
By Robert Kawika Sheer
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Indian Feather" is an original fine-art photograph by Robert Kawika Sheer. This piece is signed in the lower right and editioned in the lower left. Edition 28/250. This piece featur...
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper
'Yoga Dunes' original photograph signed by Robert Kawika Sheer
By Robert Kawika Sheer
Located in Milwaukee, WI
'Yoga Dunes' exemplifies the long-exposure photography of Robert Kawika Sheer. In the image, across an arabesque sand dune, silhouettes of the artist perform yoga, each figure drawin...
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper
Landscape Photograph Contemporary Modern Performance Art Travel Americana Signed
By Robert Kawika Sheer
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Lightning Along Route 66 Arizona - Navajo Exit" is a long-exposure photograph by Robert Kawika Sheer. This limited edition photograph depicts the light trails from cars along Americ...
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper
$1,852
H 17.72 in W 17.72 in
A Broken Frame - An Album Cover for Depeche Mode - Medium Size Photograph
By Brian Griffin 1
Located in London, GB
A solitary figure harvests wheat under a darkening sky, embodying resilience against nature's elements... “It had been raining all morning but the clouds suddenly parted and we had ...
Photographic Film, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Color
$46,500
H 61.25 in W 78.49 in D 2.55 in
Porto Miggiano (framed) - Italian Mediterranean beach landscape in summer
By Massimo Vitali
Located in San Francisco, CA
large scale photograph of iconic summer beach scene in Southern Italy's Puglia by Italian photographer Massimo Vitali, renowned for his grand s...
Plexiglass, Wood, Photographic Film, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper,...
Crow Burial II (Sidewinder)
By Stefanie Schneider
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Crow Burial II (Sidewinder) - 2005 20 x 20 cm, Edition 4/10, digital C-Print based on a Polaroid, Artist Inventory 3505.04, Not mounted Stefanie Schneider's scintillating situat...
Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Polaroid
$46,500
H 61.25 in W 80.95 in D 2.55 in
Cala Conta Point - large scale Mediterranean beach scene (artist framed)
By Massimo Vitali
Located in San Francisco, CA
large format beach photograph by Italian photographer Massimo Vitali, renowned for his grand scale topographical observations of the rites and rituals of modern leisure Cala Conta...
Plexiglass, Photographic Film, Photographic Paper, Wood, Archival Paper
$350
H 8.5 in W 11 in
Vintage Architecture Photograph Rome Italy Steven Brooke Architectural Photo Art
Located in Surfside, FL
Steven Brooke Views of Rome Hand signed and dated lower right 1991 Dimensions 11 X 8.5 inches Vintage photo printed on Kodak RC paper Taken with an Arca Swiss view 2 X 3 camera Prove...
Photographic Paper
$46,500
H 61.25 in W 78.49 in D 2.55 in
Praia do Aterro Galp Matosinhos - large scale MassimoVitali beach scene (framed)
By Massimo Vitali
Located in San Francisco, CA
large format beach photograph by Italian photographer Massimo Vitali, renowned for his grand scale topographical observations of the rites and ritua...
Photographic Paper, Photographic Film, Plexiglass, Wood, Archival Paper
$188
H 7.09 in W 9.45 in D 0.04 in
Cupola - Ceylon Photo Reportage - Vintage Photograph by Folco Quilici - 1960s
By Folco Quilici
Located in Roma, IT
Cupola- Ceylon Photo Reportage is a Vintage b/w Photo realized in the 1960s by Folco Quilici. Good conditions. Stamped on the rear.
Photographic Paper
$3,530
H 19.69 in W 30.32 in D 0.08 in
Horses- Signed limited edition animal print, Black white, Beach, Landscape horse
By Ian Sanderson
Located in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona
Horses - Limited edition archival pigment print , Edition of 5 This image was captured on film. The negative was scanned creating a digital file which was then printed on Hahne...
Photographic Film, Archival Paper, Black and White, Giclée, Pigment, Arc...
$3,177
H 23.63 in W 35.44 in
Cliff by Xavier Dumoulin - Night photography, landscape, city, light, sky, stars
By Xavier Dumoulin
Located in Paris, FR
Cliff is a limited-edition photograph by contemporary artist Xavier Dumoulin, from the series 'Incandescences'. This photograph is sold unframed as a print only. It is available in ...
Photographic Paper, Inkjet
$70
H 5.12 in W 3.15 in D 0.08 in
Historical Photo - Vintage Photo - Early 20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Historical Photo is a vintage photo, realized in the Early 20th Century . The artwork is a well-balanced composition.
Photographic Paper
$3,177
H 23.63 in W 35.44 in
Turn by Xavier Dumoulin - Night photography, landscape, mountains, light
By Xavier Dumoulin
Located in Paris, FR
Turn is a limited-edition photograph by contemporary artist Xavier Dumoulin, from the series 'Incandescences'. This photograph is sold unframed as a print only. It is available in 2...
Photographic Paper, Inkjet
Errupt
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Erupt 20x20cm, Edition of 10 plus 2 Artist Proofs. Archival C-Print, based on the Polaroid. Signature Label and Certificate. Not mounted.
Photographic Film, Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, C Print, Color
Sold
H 19.125 in W 30.75 in
"Ghostly Gunslingers, Calica, CA, " Performance Photograph by Robert Kawika Sheer
By Robert Kawika Sheer
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Ghostly Gunslingers, Calica, CA" is an original fine-art performance photograph by Robert Kawika Sheer, signed in the lower right and numbered in the lower left. The image depicts a...
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper
Sold
H 30.75 in W 26.75 in
"The Agent Angel of Hollywood, " Photography signed by Robert Kawika Sheer
By Robert Kawika Sheer
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"The Agent Angel of Hollywood" is an original fine-art photograph by Robert Kawika Sheer. The image is signed in the lower right and numbered in the lower left. The image depicts the...
Photographic Film, Photographic Paper