Anthony Joseph Lesperance
February 07, 1958 to February 12, 2018

Anthony “Tony” was born and raised in Ogdensburg, NY. Tony started photographing in 1973 while in High School. He graduated in 1976 from Ogdensburg Free Academy with a Regents Diploma. Tony entered the United States Air Force in 1977-1981where he was stationed in Denver Colorado and Plattsburgh New York. He was a FB-111 electronics technician. In 1985 Tony was an Honor graduate, Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Photography and Painting from State University of New York Potsdam.

Artistic accomplishments during his military career included winning First Place in People and Second Place in Scenic in Color Transparencies in the Air Training Command Photo Contest held at Kessler Airforce Base in Denver Colorado. Tony was also recognized by The Council on The Arts for Clinton County in 1979 for his prints titled ‘Barn in Winter’, ‘Mountain Stream’ and ‘Birth Tree’ which were selected for inclusion in the Adirondack Photography Exhibition. In 1980 The Council on The Arts for Clinton County featured one of his photos on the back cover of Expressions.

In 1981 Tony was featured in The Ogdensburg Journal section At Your Leisure titled Tony’s photography. In a personal interview Tony was quoted as saying “I photograph anything that appeals to me, believing if you photograph what you like the results will be better”. When Tony took a photograph his goal was to “promote beauty, getting people to see what else is really there”. It was around this time Tony began his series of images he called headlight photography. “With the kinds of images headlights make, all the background is gone. The only parts that stand out are those that the light hits. The result is a reverberant sense of aloneness, not easily forgotten.” It was also during this time Tony became fascinated with capturing the wind in his photographs. He was quoted as saying “I wish I could photograph the sound of the wind”.

While in College Tony attained the following accomplishments:
1983 Annual Art Student Exhibition in Brainerd Art Gallery, State University College of Arts and Science, Potsdam, New York displayed his works: ‘Still Life With Rock #1 and #4’,and ‘Still Life With Branch #2 and #5.
1983 North Country Art Exhibition Brainerd Art Gallery State University College of Arts and Science, Potsdam, New York displayed his Watercolor work: ‘Apple Trees’.
1984 7th Annual North Country Juried Art Show Lake Placid Center for the Arts, Lake Placid, NY
1984 Featured in The Best of College Photography Annual hosted by Photographer’s Forum Magazine.
1984 North Country Art Exhibition Brainerd Art Gallery State University College of Arts and Science, Potsdam, New York displayed his photograph titled ‘Alignment Seven’
1984 Worked on the Dennis Oppenheim sculpture which was located in Lehman Park off Pierrepont Ave in Potsdam NY.
1985 Senior Honors Show where he described his photographic images as wanting to “evoke the spiritual and living forces of the landscape.”

Tony was an entrepreneur in every sense of the word. One group of photos he was particularly proud of was labeled ‘Old Photograph’s’ which he took between 1973 and 1995. Tony referred to this series as ‘The Search’. He states “searching is clearly what I was doing out in the landscape making these images. His first studio was Human Nature Publishing located in Canton NY. In 1988 he published 12 of his Adirondack Portraits in a Perpetual Birthday Calendar. This accomplishment was featured 4/25/1989 in the Watertown Daily Times section Lifestyles and Leisure. He started his own company, Advance Designs Associates in Canton NY where he manufactured, marketed and sold his invention “Magnetic Photo Gallery” which was Granted U.S. Patent and Trademark. In 1992 several of his photographs in a series titled “A Question of Balance” was on display for two months at the Frederick Remington Museum in Ogdensburg. In 1993 he moved his business to the Atlas Missile Silo in Willsboro NY and transformed a Quasi Hut into his home. Nov 1994-January 1995 his work was selected for the Earth, Sand, Clay, Rock, and Mineral. A Juried Exhibition by the Essex County Arts Council display at the Adirondack Park Visitors Interpretive Center, Paul Smiths, NY. Tony launched his painting career in the late 1990’s. His paintings closely resembled the photos of his earlier years. He once said “I am only now beginning to understand, through my painting, why I was spending most of my time with a camera in the landscape or under my enlarger in the darkroom”. He further expressed “I am quite sure ‘The Search’ will continue thru my painting and any art making I pursue throughout the rest of my life.” In 2004 Tony developed a framing company Atlas Picture Framing. His new company was featured in the Press Republican along with his last painting series which he called “Strings”.

Tony’s work was also published in several magazines including Adirondack Life, Berkshire and New York Alive.

Tony’s creativity and love for life was clearly demonstrated through his works of Art. He will be truly missed by anyone who knew him.

Anthony is survived by his Mother Phyllis, Edna Lesperance and Siblings: Christopher Lesperance of Rochester NY, Michael and Mary Jane Lesperance and Robert and Barbara Lesperance of Ogdensburg NY, Charles and Linda Lesperance of Wisconsin, Brenda (Lesperance)and Fred Ramser of Ingram PA and Laurie (Lesperance) and Edward Garland of Malone NY.

Anthony was proceeded by his parents Joan (Sanchez)and Joseph Lesperance.

A service will be held on August 11, 2018 at 11:00 am in the Notre Dame Cemetery in Ogdensburg. An Art Scholarship is being established in Tony's name. Donations can be made to the scholarship in trust to Laurie Garland, 587 County Route 26, Malone, NY 12953.

The family also invites you to share your memories and condolences by visiting www.awrfh.com.