Kathryn Wagner: Photographer's Blog

Movin' on up!

2011-01-12T12:44:00.004-05:00

Kathryn Wagner's blog has moved. Join us!

In the interest of synchronizing both my blog and portfolio site this blog has been moved to a new home. It has been a wonderful three years on the Blogger platform, but please update your bookmarks and join us at the shiny, fancy-pants newly designed Kathryn Wagner Photography blog!

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This blog will remain as an archive, please go here to see the latest photographs from Kathryn Wagner

Old San Juan Puerto Rico

2010-11-16T14:21:00.001-05:00

San Juan Puerto Rico - Images by Kathryn Wagner

Portfolio Revamp on www.kathrynwagner.com

2010-11-01T14:48:00.000-04:00

Just a quick note to highlight a recent revamp done to my portfolio website. On www.kathrynwagner.com you can now easily find a collection of images organized by subject matter, which highlights what I love to work on with both commercial and editorial clients. The links to the stories are still present on the blog for those who have bookmarked, but in the future look to this blog for more of these story projects in their entirety.

I am thinking that this format will be best for both clients and the interested fellow creative, providing a bright line for content to follow within the blog, and a highlight reel of sorts for the portfolio website.

New gallery up on the website: President Monroe's Ash Lawn Highland

2010-10-22T06:54:00.024-04:00

The Gardens of President Monroe's Ash Lawn Highland - Images by Kathryn Wagner
"Our country may be likened to a new house. We lack many things, but we possess the most precious of all - liberty!" - President James Monroe

Ash Lawn Highland was the estate of President James Monroe. President Monroe and his family lived in what was then called 'Ash Lawn' from 1799 - 1823. The extensive gardens are maintained with historical accuracy to convey an immersive experience to visitors. Today a museum and working agricultural farm can be found alongside the beautiful property that is Ash Lawn Highland. I really enjoyed spending time there exploring the traditional layout of the gardens, and seeing the livestock kept on the property. The gardens are impeccably maintained and a must-see this fall, especially if you are in the area.

Image of the Week, October 9 2010: St. Barth's Beach Chairs

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From the series recently featured on Sundayed.com

Image of the Week, October 4 2010: Peace Hill Lookout

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Peace hill is one of my favorite spots on St. John, and a great place for a quick hike and a swim in nearby Denis Bay. From 1953 until hurricane Marylin swept through the island, there was a giant Christ of the Caribbean statue atop the hill. (The colonial era windmill in the linked photo still stands.)Peace Hill is definitely peaceful, and a great place to spot sailboats traveling to the British Virgin Islands.

Image of the Week, September 27 2010: St. Barthelemy Takeoff

2010-09-27T17:22:00.000-04:00

This week I wished to share with you an image from St. Barthelemy in the French West Indies. It is currently part of a series being featured on Sundayed, a website devoted to provocative weekend reading. I felt this image to be particularly relevant to St. Barths, as the island is known for it's heart stopping landings into Gustaf III airport

St. Barth's is a winter haven, a refuge for the French and Francophiles alike. Unique in it's infrastructure and distance from it's mother country, a visit allows a glimpse into a condesed segment of French territorial living. Known for it's haute cuisine and star studded beaches, St. Barth's is a wonderful destination. Many people visit annually for the Cinema Caribes film festival, which I highly recommend.

View the photograhic essay on Sundayed.com

Details on Cinema Caribes

Image of the Week, September 20 2010: West Main Street Bridge

2010-09-20T11:25:00.000-04:00

I had passed over this bridge a countless number of times before, but it took an early Autumn thunderstorm and a new angle to garner the image above. Most of all, the inception of this photograph took vigilance in seeking creative fuel to fire the spark of inspiration. Just as with opportunity, inspiration knocks and the apt answer.

As a professional photographer awareness and creativity on demand are a job requirement. Though the ability to do those things on demand arrives only after many hours of diligence. From this perseverance with your craft and creative eye images materialize, and eventually the ability to tap into the stream of imagination and awareness to assist others in bringing their ideas to light.

I would encourage everyone with creative ambitions large and small to tackle without heed the challenges you face in your endeavors.

"A man's work is nothing but this slow trek to rediscover, through the detours of art, those two or three great and simple images in whose presence his heart first opened." (Albert Camus)

Image of the Week, September 6 2010: Seascapes and horizons

2010-09-06T17:40:00.001-04:00

This image is from the Land and Sea series, part of which was exhibited at McGuffey Art Center, in Charlottesville Virginia last year. These images are from a variety of locations, though are tied together with the cool color palette utilized and the inclusion of a strong horizon line. The horizon line is a graphic element that I love, and think can be quite powerful within a photographic composition to unite or divide elements. While attending Virginia Commonwealth University's photography program, I loved learning about how to use natural elements such as horizon lines and the rule of thirds to strengthen the message in a photograph. While studying abroad, outside London, I first came across the immensely inspirational Hiroshi Sugimoto - an artist whose work influenced me in the creation of the Land and Sea series.

One of my favorite things about living on an island is that you are surrounded by a strong horizon line, where the sky meets the sea. Wonderful to look out upon and great for creating photographs.

Quote of the day: Jodi Cobb

2010-09-01T07:31:00.001-04:00

"You get your best pictures when you engage in a process of discovering each other. I want the viewer to have an emotional response to the subject, without some obvious technique getting in the way." - Jodi Cobb

Quote of the day: Minor White

2010-08-25T07:24:00.003-04:00

Reaching a 'creative' state of mind thru positive action is considered preferable to waiting for 'inspiration'. - Minor White

Image of the Week, August 23 2010: Viginia Fire Dancers

2010-08-23T12:18:00.001-04:00

Virginia Fire Dancers - Images by Kathryn Wagner
I was fortunate to attend the annual Let There Be Light event in the two years the exhibit was introduced. If you are in Charlottesville around my birthday, the twelfth of December, be sure to check out this inspiring and innovative evening of light based artworks. I was going back over some previous work and came across this set of three which I wanted to share, as I love relaxed concentration on the faces of the performers and the wonderful light provided by the fire. Wikipedia has a great article on Fire Dancing and the adventuresome one can find out how to do the basics with the DVD Poi Groove Basics - though I wold also highly reccommend taking a class as well to learn the safety techniques employed in this beautiful form of performance art.

Image of the Week, August 16 2010: Vietnam Veterans Memorial

2010-08-16T20:41:00.000-04:00

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial and Washington Monument were interesting subjects to focus on during a trip to DC. It was fascinating to observe how others interacted with these markers of our nation's history. The design, by Maya Ying Lin (a then 21-year-old Yale University architecture student from Athens, Ohio) does a wonderful job commemorating the individuals whose names are inscribed on this powerful reminder of 1960's America.

Quote of the day: Imogen Cunningham

2010-08-11T07:15:00.001-04:00

"Which of my photographs is my favorite? The one I'm going to take tomorrow." - Imogen Cunningham

Image of the Week, August 9 2010: Rural Virginia Farm

2010-08-10T16:16:00.000-04:00

I am spending the week here on a break in rural Virginia. The farm above is adjacent to the property, hidden down a long two lane road. A wonderful surprise to come upon while walking. The beautiful landscape is dotted with the quintessential small towns that preside over crossroads of two-lane Virginia byways. Many of the communities that I will pass through next week on my way to Charlottesville, Virginia are designated Main Street Communities, meaning they have preserved the beauty of the downtown area, and that one could easily spend an afternoon strolling along, stopping to take in the summer sunshine.

Quote of the day: Mary Ellen Mark

2010-08-04T07:09:00.001-04:00

"I just think it's important to be direct and honest with people about why you're photographing them and what you're doing. After all, you are taking some of their soul, and I think you have to be clear about that."- Mary Ellen Mark

Image of the week, August 3, 2010: Great Blue Heron

2010-08-03T08:45:00.002-04:00

Birdwatching is one of my favorite activities that easily accompany photography. Living in close quarters with the Virgin Islands National Park affords many wonderful opportunities to see birdlife, and the waterfowl are my favorite. This Great Blue Heron was spotted while out photographing on the edge of Waterlemon beach. The call that a Heron gives is quite distinct. Not to be confused with the Great Egret, I love the grace and poise that these beautiful birds possess.

Quote of the day: Stephen Shore

2010-07-28T07:04:00.003-04:00

"I discovered that this camera was the technical means in photography of communicating what the world looks like in a state of heightened awareness. And it’s that awareness of really looking at the everyday world with clear and focused attention that I’m interested in." - Stephen Shore

New gallery up on the website: St. John Carnival

2010-07-27T16:33:00.000-04:00

St. John Carnival, U.S. Virgin Islands - Images by Kathryn Wagner

Quote of the day: Edward Weston

2010-07-21T07:01:00.001-04:00

"The photograph isolates and perpetuates a moment of time: an important and revealing moment, or an unimportant and meaningless one, depending upon the photographer's understanding of his subject and mastery of his process." - Edward Weston

Image of the week, July 19th 2010: Carnival Fireworks

2010-07-19T16:26:00.001-04:00

St. John recently celebrated Carnival throughout the streets of town. A carnival village is set up every year in Cruz Bay. West Indian food and drink is served to the beat of Caribbean music heard during nightly concerts. The festivities concluded with a show of fireworks, usually done near the Fourth of July, and held this year on the Fifth of July. This is one of my favorite times of year in the West Indies and this year was no exception. I had a wonderful time capturing this exuberant celebration!

Quote of the day: Paul Caponigro

2010-07-18T06:18:00.001-04:00

'It's one thing to make a picture of what a person looks like, it's another thing to make a portrait of who they are." - Paul Caponigro

Quote of the day: Eliot Porter

2010-07-14T06:53:00.005-04:00

"Sometimes you can tell a large story with a tiny subject." - Eliot Porter

RESOURCEFUL RESOURCES: Black Star Rising - Five tips for a successful travel photography shoot

2010-07-07T06:35:00.006-04:00

So this is part of a consolidated list of my resourceful resources. Colleagues, as well as myself are always hungry for more information and I love to exchange with others where I go to learn more. I feel that one of the best things about being a photographer is that there is always more to learn. This series of posts will be my personal, curated resource of resourcefulness, services and information which have helped my creative business, and will hopefully help yours as well.

Five steps to a successful travel photography shoot from BlackStar on Vimeo.

I am excited and enthusiastic about contributing to the wonderful Black Star Rising photography blog. Black Star is one of the oldest photographic agencies in the U.S. and they count publications such as Time as thier clients. Above is my first contribution to Black Star Rising, detailing five tips for a successful travel photography assignment. Enjoy!

Image of the week, June 28 2010: Carnival is coming...

2010-06-28T18:17:00.001-04:00

Carnival is coming! The annual event held each year on the island of St. John happily coincides with the Fourth of July. The photo above was taken just before the Carnival parade a few years ago. Scores of St. Johnians march in colorful costumes every year down the main street of Cruz Bay, and there is celebration all week. Coming from Virginia, Carnival to me is the closest thing to the annual Albemarle County Fair, complete with special foods, music and celebration. A gallery of Carnival photographs can be found on my website.

Image of the week, June 21 2010: Santa Monica Pier

2010-06-21T17:47:00.002-04:00

I photographed the Santa Monica Pier a few years ago while in Los Angeles. I was fascinated that this historic landmark was such a great representation of the city's cross section of culture. It seemed that most everyone from Santa Monica went to the Pier, whether it was for a stroll, some thrills from the kitschy amusement park, or to catch dinner by fishing off of the pier. It was a great spot to photograph during the day, and I would definately reccommend shooting there in the late afternoon, when the west coast sun hangs low with those who are hanging out on the Pier.

Image of the week, June 14, 2010: Laughing Gull

2010-06-14T10:33:00.002-04:00

The laughing gulls are back in the islands. They observe a seasonal migratory schedule, though opposite from many humans here in the Virgin Islands. You know it is summer (or soon to be) when a flock of these bold seabirds approaches your boat in search of a treat. This avian creature followed us on our way to the British Virgin Islands, flying off the wake of the boat to scavenge for food. A word to the wise is to not feed these birds, lest you make a closer friend than you intended!

Client Work: June 2010 St. John Sun Times cover

2010-06-10T06:17:00.022-04:00

This is a series highlighting commercial and editorial work with clients. Interested in a creative visual solution for your business or publication? Contact me.

Image of the week, June 7 2010: Fly me to the Moon...

2010-06-07T17:16:00.009-04:00

Simply put, I love photographing from airplanes. Helicopters are even better, but there is something so timeless to me about gliding over the earth in an airplane, camera in hand. I also love landing while shooting from airplanes, as you watch the earth emerge and approach it with all of the grace a pilot has to offer. This shot was taken this past week, at cruising altitude, during a beautifully clear day when the moon afforded a distinct appearance. So much fun, I love when a shot comes together like this.
Interested in doing the same? A wonderful resource on photographing from airplanes, and how it relates to the practice of creative thinking can be found in Julianne Kost's lovely book:Window Seat: The Art of Digital Photography and Creative Thinking
A great book to keep the ideas flowing.

RESOURCEFUL RESOURCES: Heather Morton Art Buyer

2010-06-04T06:47:00.001-04:00

I first became aware of Heather Morton through a link on A Photo Editor. I was very interested in Ms. Morton's perspective as an art buyer and she has proved to provide insightful and sound insight into the creative industry.

My favorite posts have definitely been following two promising young shooters, Jamie Hogge and Grant Harder on their pursuit of a full time photographic career. The series is titled A Year in the Life Project, and I have really enjoyed relating to both image makers on the challenges of the industry.

The second reason I highly recommend subscribing to HMAB's RSS feed (or adding to your google page) is the new Ask an Art Buyer series. Heather and her team have compiled a list of poignant questions regarding the nuances of the creative world and are asking guest art buyers to answer them. From branching out in photographic genres to dealing with trashed portfolios these conversations are well worth reading.

Overall, I highly recommend professional creatives check out Heather Morton's blog and the lively conversation facilitated on http://www.heathermorton.ca/blog

Image of the week, May 31 2010: Caribbean Whitetail Deer

2010-05-31T11:07:00.002-04:00

Recently St. John has had a more visible population of deer, such as these two does photographed in Caneel Bay resort. Locals say that the population originated from a few deer swimming over to St. John from a neighboring island. They have become much more visible on the trails in Virgin Islands National Park and their boldness is noticeable. The park affords the non native species a sanctuary and no natural predators - though a concerted effort is underway from park staff to control the population. Despite thier invasiveness I am finding inspiration from seeing these familiar creatures, especially with their siginificant role in many cultures myths and legends.

Image of the week, May 24 2010: Pool is open, dive in!

2010-05-24T20:22:00.000-04:00

In honor of Memorial Day weekend, where pool's across the U.S. officially open, the Image of the Week features a pool in one of my favorite vacation spots, the Outer Banks of North Carolina. North Carolina's coastline also features other popular activities such as fishing and boating not to mention the magnificent Jockey's Ridge State Park. Here's to taking a swim this weekend!

Images of the week: May 17, 2010 - 37th Annual Rolex International Regatta

2010-05-17T18:42:00.002-04:00

2010 Rolex Regatta - St Thomas Virgin Islands - Images by Kathryn Wagner
Recently I went out on assignment for the St. John Sun Times to cover the 37th Annual Rolex International Regatta. What an event, truly a blast to photograph. I spent the day on the water with several other journalists and really enjoyed the camaraderie. The Regatta featured many classes of sailboats from small two person teams on beach catamarans to larger sailboats with a full crew of sailors. Racing was hosted by the lovely St. Thomas Yacht Club and followed several routes, depending on the class of each craft. Overall the regatta was a great assignment and I look forward to covering future races in the Caribbean.

Client Work: Asolare Restaurant St. John, Virgin Islands

2010-04-23T06:06:00.002-04:00

Asolare Restaurant, St. John Virgin Islands - Images by Kathryn Wagner

I am happy to share with you a set of images I recently produced and photographed for Asolare Restaurant in Cruz Bay, St. John. The restaurant was doing a branding redesign and subsequent online marketing campaign to highlight new ownership and a new chef/management team. I was enthusiastic to highlight the beautiful (and delicious!) asian style cuisine they feature. I love shooting food, as it is wonderful to work with restauranteurs and collaborate with the creativity of chefs. Evan Neal-Pishko has been the chef of Asolare restaurant since October of last year, and his team has been doing a wonderful job of emphasizing local ingredients with asian flair. The shoot was fun, and the images were integrated within the website design by Level9 Studios, as well as in online marketing and social media. I look forward to more projects such as this in 2010.

New photographic series up on the website: Virgin Fresh, an island beekeeping initiative

2010-04-19T19:16:00.001-04:00

Virgin Fresh: An island beekeeping initiative - Images by Kathryn Wagner
This past winter I was fortuante to document an island wide beekeeping initiative on St. John. I was interested in the effort and the class because it attempts to tackle a unique problem to the islands: what can you do in a rural area with little land for agriculture? Tourism is definitely the island's mainstay industry, but beekeeping is a small, yet unique solution, to the lack of local goods available. Bee hives do not require a large amount of land and they have a highly diversified portfolio of potential end products. Thus an interested bee farmer could have many hive on just one acre of land and host their own small industry in their backyard. The class was ten weeks long, hosted by the and highly attended by many interested locals, who have gone on to begin raising their own hives. My hopes are with the many beekeepers that local honey, candles and beauty products - not to mention a new industry - will soon become available as a result of a beekeeper's efforts.

Image of the week, March 22 2010:

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Members of the Monticello Bird Club check out a specimien perched in a tree during thier monthly morning birdwalk, held within Ivy Creek Natural Area

Image of the week, March 15th 2010: Chesapeake Bay

2010-03-15T13:24:00.001-04:00

This image was shot a few years ago while spending time on the awe inspiring Chesapeake Bay. The colors that evening were true to the image above, and I was glad they matched the festive mood of the evening. We spent time catching catfish off of the dock, watching the boats go by, and enjoying the warmth that a Virginia summer wraps around you. I think it is wonderful when you are able to enjoy the simplest elements coming together to make for a great evening and a wonderful time creating images. Have you a similar experience on a shoot to share?

BEHIND THE SHOT: The Garage Goes Dressy

2010-03-12T09:33:00.001-05:00

This week I wanted to bring to you a spring image for all of those who experience the colder seasons. This photograph is of an installation titled "The Garage Goes Dressy" where an entire historic carriage house was 'dressed up' in retro fabrics amidst downtown Charlottesville, Virginia.

I was fortunate to meet the artist Miss Kate Daughdrill through the lovely Piedmont Council of the Arts organization. Kate is particularly interested in community-oriented, socially-engaged art projects with relational, social, and spiritual implications. Her effervescence and attention to the piece made it wonderful to experience.

Kate sewed the entire piece together and then made modifications during installation, transforming the building into a unique visual destination within the typical city street. I really enjoyed photographing the different patterns in each of the fabric panels, and felt as though the colors gave the small building a cozy and welcoming feel.

Image of the week, March 8th 2010: St. Barthelemy Film Festival

2010-03-08T21:56:00.000-05:00

I resided on St. Barthelemy briefly, and our stay coincided perfectly with the fabulous "Cinema Caribes" a yearly film festival unique to the French West Indies. 2007 was the 35th anniversary of 'The Harder They Come' a film that proved to be pivotal in introducing Jimmy Cliff and the reggae genre to American audiences. I saw the film the second evening of my stay in St. Barthelemy and thought it a fitting introduction to another Caribbean interlude.

The shot above was of the projectionist, who was so kind as to give me a tour of the loft where the projection room was housed. It seemed as though a reverence for the original print of the film demanded a very skilled individual to conduct the screening. I found the projectionist to be fascinating and the film to be a wonderful look into the early days of reggae.

I would highly reccomend a stay in St. Barthelemy to attend this unique film festival. The 2010 St. Barth Film Festival will be April 24th-April 30th, 2010. Full Details and schedule of screenings can be found by clicking here.

RESOURCEFUL RESOURCES: iGoogle - the new front page news for Creatives.

2010-03-04T09:03:00.002-05:00

So this is part of a consolidated list of my resourceful resources. Colleagues, as well as aspiring photographers have all asked me in the past about where to go to learn more. And I feel that one of the best things about being a photographer is that there is always more to learn. This series of posts will be my personal, curated resource of resourcefulness. Feel free to pay it forward by linking back to the blog....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igoogle

I have been a fan of iGoogle since it's inception in May 2005. Fresh from my BFA at the time, and looking for information on how to be the best creative business person I could be, I was hungry for information on the creative industry and found iGoogle to be the ultimate personalized newspaper. I still use it daily to keep track of over 50 different sources of information that update on a regular basis. I can tell you as a member of Generation Y that I do not read the newspaper every morning, but I do read this - and it is completely customized and geared toward my professional photography.

The symbol for an RSS feed. Click to subscribe to the latest from this blog.

The real beauty in iGoogle and other types of personalized homepages is that they accept any stream of information that has an RSS feed. RSS is the heart that keeps personalized homepages pumping and allows for anything from your favorite blogs to another creative's portfolio to be updated and in one place. I do have guidelines that I follow to help a site stay on my homepage and stay relevant to my buisness. A resource a)Must be updated frequently, and if updated less than once a week I am looking for very high quality content and b) Must be insightful and relevant to the creative industry.

Do you use these personalized homepages? What are some of your favorite industry resources? Feel free to respond in the comments below.

Image of the week, March 1st 2010: Cape Hattaras Kayaker

2010-03-01T11:53:00.000-05:00

A son and daughter kayak along the inland canals near Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The canals that border the sound are part of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and runs most of the length of the eastern seaboard. Home to part of the Striped Bass migration, the canals provide a great recreational alternative to the popular beaches of the Outer Banks.

RESOURCEFUL RESOURCES: American Society of Media Photographers

2010-02-25T10:03:00.000-05:00

So this is part of a consolidated list of my resourceful resources. Colleagues, as well as aspiring photographers have all asked me in the past about where to go to learn more. And I feel that one of the best things about being a photographer is that there is always more to learn. So this series of posts will be my personal, curated resource of resourcefulness. If you benefit, feel free to pay it forward by linking back to the blog....

American Society of Media Photographers is 'the premier agency dedicated to the advocacy of professional photographers' and to a creative professional nearly indispensible. Whether you are an Art Buyer looking for new photographers to work with utilizing the free "Find a Photographer" service, a photographer who wants to refresh their perspective on the industry with educational events, or a fresh faced graduate straight out of photo school looking to be an assistant - ASMP has it all. I love their Strictly Business blog and am still friends with many of the photographers I worked with as a member of my home chapter ASMPCV in Richmond, Virginia. I highly recommend joining whether you are a photographer or creative professional who works with photographers.

Image of the week, February 22nd 2010: Outdoor Movie

2010-02-22T09:28:00.000-05:00

Click to view a larger version

Quote of the day: Sam Abell

2010-02-17T16:44:00.000-05:00

"Above all, it's hard learning to live with vivid mental images of scenes I cared for and failed to photograph. It is the edgy existence within me of these unmade images that is the only assurance that the best photographs are yet to be made." - Sam Abell, Stay This Moment

RESOURCEFUL RESOURCES: Wise Elephant

2010-02-16T13:03:00.000-05:00

So this is the beginning of a consolidated list of my resourceful resources. Friends and colleagues, as well as aspiring photographers have all asked me in the past about learning more. And I feel that one of the best things about being a photographer is that there is always more to learn. So this series of posts will be my personal, curated resource of resourcefulness. If you benefit, feel free to pay it forward by linking back to the blog....

I first heard about Jason Morbier and Wise Elephant through Ms. Leslie Burns-Dell'Acqua's buisness book Business Basics for the Successful Commercial Photographer. It was the end of the year and I felt as though my buisness could use a jump start with a fresh perspective on the rapidly changing market and new social media tools now available to creatives. Jason is great in his advice getting to the heart of the matter with the buisness very quickly, and was wonderful in suggesting how to best use tools such as Twitter and Facebook. I also found the team's blog to be a great insight for today's creative economy. Jason offers up great bits of info in his twitter feed, defiately a recommended follow.

Image of the week, February 15th 2010: Glass Art on St. John

2010-02-15T09:18:00.001-05:00

St. John Glass Art: Allen - Images by Kathryn Wagner

The Image of the Week this week features photographs of Allen, a glass artist who resided on St. John. Back in 2006 I was invited to come to his studio and photograph him blowing glass. What a fascinating medium! Requiring much patience, skill and a steady hand my favorite part about it was the curious glasses we all had to wear to protect our eyes from the blinding flame of the kiln. It took about an hour to an hour and a half to create the glass marble shown in the last shot. Though Allen has relocated back to the U.S. one can still catch a glass blowing demonstration at Maho Bay while on St. John

Awesome article by Carolyn Potts on your most valuable asset.....

2010-02-11T10:41:00.000-05:00

"Do you know what is the most valuable asset you possess? You need a lot to run your photo business, but what is most deserving of protection? Hint: Its not your camera gear. Nor your computer hardware and software– or even your image archive or your portfolio...."-Carolyn Potts (click for the full story)

Quote of the day: Julia Margaret Cameron

2010-02-10T17:36:00.000-05:00

"The capacity for delight is the gift of paying attention."
Julia Margaret Cameron

RESOURCEFUL RESOURCES: Burns Auto Parts

2010-02-09T16:03:00.002-05:00

So this is the beginning of a consolidated list of my resourceful resources. I feel that one of the best things about being a photographer is that there is always more to learn. So this series of posts will be my personal, curated resource of resourcefulness. Feel free to pay it forward by linking back to the blog....

One of my favorite and longest standing resources is Ms. Leslie Burns-Dell'Acqua and her company Burns Auto Parts. She is awesome in lending resources to creatives on every level, and has a super-premium blog, podcast, free manuals and excellent books out for creatives of all stripes.

A new twist that BAP has recently developed is the advent of monthly assignments. I participated in the first assignment and am excited and challenged by the second. This is a great resource for those looking for feedback on their images, and photographers who would like a theme to go with their personal shooting schedules.

I say that BAP is one of my favorite resources because Leslie is a real advocate for the professional creative, and has years of industry experience to back up her advice. I feel that her perspective has been useful for me from day one of my career and she continuously addresses timely issues facing professional creatives today.

I have found very useful both of her books Business Basics for the Successful Commercial Photographer and Tell the World You Don't Suck: Modern Marketing for Commercial Photographers. They have been recently updated to reflect the needs of the modern photographer, a must for any recent photo school graduate or anyone entering the profession:

Image of the week: Testing a historic recipe near Thomas Jefferson's Monticello

2010-02-08T13:54:00.001-05:00

Tasting Thomas Jefferson's Historic Gumbo Recipe - Images by Kathryn Wagner

The photograph above of an herb bundle was made as part of a series detailing the testing of a historic gumbo recipe which was compared with the classic New Orleans version. Meticulously researched by David "Dr. Nac" Naccari, a visiting Barringer Research Fellow from the Big Easy, this was a fun and informative afternoon spent learning more about historical cuisine.

Interestingly Peter J. Hatch, Director Monticello Gardens and Grounds shares with us:
"Jefferson was a pioneer grower of "tomatas." Beginning in 1809, he planted this grudgingly accepted vegetable yearly, usually in square X near the midpoint of the garden. Jefferson's daughter, Martha, and daughters, Virginia and Septimia, left numerous recipes that involved tomatoes, including gumbo soups, cayenne-spiced tomato soup, green tomato pickles, tomato preserves, and tomato omelettes. Tomatoes were purchased in 1806 for Presidential dinners. Randolph's The Virginia Housewife has seventeen recipes for tomatoes, including gazpacho, gumbo, and catsup. "

For the comparison ingredients were gathered from the gardens at Monticello, and the produce were of the heirloom variety - so all of the herbs in the bundle above were a close cousin to what Mr. Jefferson's cook might have used. Originally called "Okra Soup" it was interesting to taste the more historic version was less spicy, yet more hearty, utilizing lots of rice and tomatoes. The modern, New Orleans version was what we most often think of when referencing gumbo - spicy, meaty and full flavored. Overall the comparison was enlightening to the intracacies of historic American cuisine

View the full photo essay over on my website.

Full recipe below featuring the historic 'Okra Soup', courtesy of the publisher and Google Books:

BEHIND THE SHOT: Josephine's Greens and her (more than) three little pigs...

2010-02-05T13:34:00.000-05:00

This is the first installment of a series I am calling 'Behind the Shot' that will illustrate and discuss images from my portfolio and outtakes. My hopes with this series are to bring a bit more insight into my shooting style and inform you as to my creative processes.

Just to lighten the mood on a Friday I wanted to share with you Josephine's newest batch of pigs. As cute as these guys are, they didn't make it into the latest photographic essay I have up on the website but I hope to put a smile on your face for the weekend ahead.

Though these pigs are adorable, watch out for their mother...While in the pen photographing her babies the mother pig mistook one of my toes for a snack and tried to eat it! Luckily I got away just in time, and elected to use a longer lens to avoid Ms. piggy. Have you ever had a similar experience? Do share in the comment section...

As the essay is just the first installment of a series on local food, within a small tropical island, look for more from this 'localvore' soon!

Image of the week, February 1st 2010

2010-02-01T09:36:00.001-05:00

Josephine's Greens, Coral Bay St. John - Images by Kathryn Wagner

St. John's Coral Bay Garden Center is Josephine Roller's organic brainchild and the best place on island to get produce, as it is local and harvested daily. In this photo Josephine begins her morning by walking out to her garden for a batch of her mixed greens before the day's customers arrive.

New gallery up on the website: Josephine's Greens

2010-01-27T09:45:00.000-05:00

I was lucky enough to spend a day with Josephine Roller, St. John's premier provider of organic produce and local foods. The shoot began bright and early to accommodate her busy schedule and the morning sun. I was excited to get a taste of local farming here on the island. In contrast to my hometown of Charlottesville, local food is not as common in the supermarket and just beginning to gain traction within the community.

Josephine is a shining example of how local fresh produce can positively impact your health and well being. She is one of the only farmers on the island of St. John, using organic methods in all of her produce - and it shows. Anyone who has come to visit an island location only accessible by boat understands how important a business like Josephine's is to St. John. Other produce imported here is already a week old when it hits supermarket shelves. St. John resorts and restaurants have also taken note, and her Coral Bay garden center supplies produce to all of them.

This series is a beginning to a larger project I am working on highlighting the possibility of sourcing the majority of your food locally, within the challenging environment of an island where land is scarce and small farming not as prevalent as in the States. I want to explore the connection Virgin Islanders have with their food sources and who is providing that connection....Stay tuned for more in the coming weeks!

BEHIND THE SHOT: Destination - Oxford Mississippi

2010-01-20T14:38:00.001-05:00

Oxford Mississippi is a lovely college town located in Lafayette County Mississippi. Founded in 1835 it is the home to the University of Mississippi and a thriving culture of bakeries, cafe's and bookstores. The town is in a lovely setting and has maintained a beautiful historic downtown centered around what locals call "The Square." I had a fantastic time shooting there, and highly recommend a browse in the Square Books shop and a coffee at Bottletree Bakery. Home of many well known writers such as William Falkner and John Grisham, I look forward to the next time I get to peruse the town of Oxford.

Image of the week, January 18th 2010: Cruz Bay Harbor

2010-01-18T09:29:00.000-05:00

Images such as this are why I love living in a location surrounded by water. Cruz bay harbor is busy for it's small size and you can frequently see boaters coming and going from the docks. I loved making this photograph, as it shows a slice of island living that happens every day throughout the Caribbean.

BEHIND THE SHOT: Meet Nash, he is a Metropolitan....

2010-01-15T09:33:00.000-05:00

I had a great time this week photographing a rare sight, Nash Metropolitan. The car is the only one in the Virgin Islands and dates from 1962, one of the last years Nash manufactured the Metropolitan model.

Many celeberties have also owned a similar vehicle, including Jimmy Buffet, who had a 1958 Nash which he drove around Key West Florida. This car was really beautiful and spoke to me of a genteel era on St. John, when a car was a less common sight than a sailboat.

Deanna, the car's owner, imported it from the U.S. where it has been a member of her extended family for years. She drives it daily and says it 'runs like a top.'

BEHIND THE SHOT: Lil Old Opry: Matthews County Virginia

2010-01-13T12:17:00.000-05:00

Last May I visited with a good friend to take a few portraits on the Virginia's beautiful Chesapeake Bay. En route to Gwynn's Island, we passed Donk's which was a major landmark in the colorful directions we were given to reach our destination. The place really stood out to me, as it seemed unchanged since it's inception as a live country music show in June of 1975. Since then, Donk's has had a live show every other Saturday evening keeping the tradition of stage performance alive in Eastern Virginia. Though we did not have a chance to catch a show on the last visit, I will definitely check out this Virginia landmark next time I am passing through.

Image of the week, January 11th 2010: View from Annaburg

2010-01-11T12:09:00.000-05:00

The view over Waterlemon Bay at Annaburg Ruins was spectacular earlier this month. I was going for a shot with strong notions of the beautiful Caribbean Sea and the North Shore of St. John proved to be a great location for the photograph.

Join in on the conversation! I am now on Twitter....

2010-01-09T15:31:00.000-05:00

I have now discovered the magic that is twitter, and proud to say the learning curve hasn't been too steep. Join in on the conversation, share a link, and be sure to add my twitter feed to your list!

New post, New Year!

2010-01-08T15:15:00.000-05:00

Already 2010 has been good to me. I have recently received an invitation to Kickstarter.com from the awesome Mike Shipman and I plan on creating a project centered on the unique history of St. John.

What is Kickstarter? It is a wonderful online community, a 'new way to fund ideas and endeavors' specifically geared to the creative within all of us. I have really enjoyed the site and the great ideas being funded there. From a trip around the world to a comic book guide to frugal living it is exciting to see such great ideas come to light.

Stay tuned for more on the upcoming project, and a Happy New Year to all!

BEHIND THE SHOT: British Virgin Islands: A Three Hour Tour

2009-11-15T20:44:00.000-05:00

I went to the British Virgin Islands recently and had a blast exploring and shooting stock photography. I got a chance to see Virgin Gorda's famous Baths, the caves at the original Treasure Island, and Norman Island's gorgeous beaches. My favorite shot from the day is above. Luckily the passing storm didn't hit us on the boat, and the trip made for a great day out.

BEHIND THE SHOT: Coral Bay Agricultural Center

2009-10-15T20:35:00.000-04:00

I stopped in to the Coral Bay agricultural center this week and wanted to see what they were all about. Coral bay is the smaller of the two towns on St. John, where a slow pace of life is paramount to many residents. The government run resource that is the Agricultural center is being utilized as class space and a garden. St John could really benefit from more of this as land is limited and thus farming cost prohibitive. I love the tropical landscape growing in abundance, and the bright colors of the agricultural center made for an interesting photograph.

Image of the week, September 15th 2009: St. John's North Shore Road

2009-09-14T21:51:00.000-04:00

Gallery of St. John images now available

2009-09-08T10:35:00.000-04:00

Saint John U.S. Virgin Islands, Caribbean - Images by Kathryn Wagner

New Photographic Series: "Pathways"

2009-09-05T12:48:00.000-04:00

Pathways - Images by Kathryn Wagner

Image of the week, September 1st 2009

2009-09-01T15:00:00.000-04:00

This image came about while celebrating carnival during our first week here on St. John. Carnival is a yearly celebration of emancipation for many locals and Juve' is the culmination of three weeks of food music and dance. Every year at four in the morning there is a steel drum parade that dances through the streets with the rest of the town dancing behind. It was an interesting celebration, but I really enjoyed this quiet moment also, as local St. Johnian's anticipated the sound of the steel drums.

News Update from Kathryn in St. John, Virgin Islands

2009-08-17T09:26:00.000-04:00

SO it has been quite some time since I have posted, as I have recently relocated "south of the greater Miami area." During this transition I had a lot of time to contemplate what I intend for this space and I have decided that an expansion of scope is in order.

In addition to weekly image posts, and contributions from the lovely team of interns... keep your eyes peeled for photography news and perspectives of the art market from yours truly. I will be mixing it up a bit more with text and images and giving some insight on inspirations and new work.

STAY TUNED.....In the meantime feel free to become a friend/fan on Facebook and check out the group blogging project Art Klatch.

New image for the Belmont Series - 'Clothesline'

2009-07-16T08:09:00.000-04:00

Visit us in the ASMP Lounge as a part of LOOK3 2009, The Festival of the Photograph

2009-06-08T09:00:00.001-04:00

Come visit us at the Festival of the Photograph 2009, in the ASMP networking lounge!

We will have refreshments, wireless internet, and a place to enjoy conversation and camaraderie with other festival attendees in a relaxed environment. The photographer's lounge is in McGuffey Arts Center, where the major exhibitions of the festival are also showcased. We are on the second floor in Studio 27. Directions can be found below.

Looking forward to seeing you.

View Larger Map

Studio 27 Open for First Fridays!

2009-06-04T09:15:00.000-04:00

Join us in Studio 27 this Friday June 5th for an open studio in the evening, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

We will be featuring a sampling of the several series Kathryn Wagner shot over the past year. Refreshments will be available, and you can easily stop in and see the work along with the wonderful images featured for the upcoming Festival of the Photograph next week.

Hope to see you there!

Image of the Week, June 1st 2009: Rosemond Farm Farrier

2009-06-02T09:00:00.000-04:00

This is an earlier image of mine, shot during a series of images made on a historic barn and farm in Keswick Virginia, just outside of Charlottesville. The farrier, Russ Hite uses an older technique of blacksmiths called 'hot shoeing' which produces the clouds of smoke enveloping him in the shot. I welcome you to check out the entire series of Rosemond Farm photographs here.

Art in Context X

2009-05-29T09:22:00.000-04:00

By Guest Blogger Rachel Swartz

Analyzing an excerpt from the "Journey" series next to Ansel Adam's Redwood Grove allows us to see how color affects the representation of a subject. Both photographs depict the poetic, monumental Redwood trees of Northern California. There is no attempt to twist or recontextualize nature in either photograph - each is a testament to the majesty of the trees. Adams' work is more documentarian, less elaborated in the staid, simple black and white tones, but the rich greens and browns of Kathryn's work, combined with the slightly lower angle, emphasize a sense of magic in the trees. The forest is cast in a fairy tale, and one million possibilities exist within its borders.

New photographic series: "Belmont"

2009-05-27T09:08:00.000-04:00

Belmont Series - Images by Kathryn Wagner

This series of photographs, titled "Belmont" has been coming of age for the past few months. I have been fascinated by the contrast of the built environment especially in domestic terms, and the natural world. This series is exploring how that divide has grown over time, within the historic Belmont neighborhood.

Image of the Week, May 25th 2009: Crozet Railroad, Old Buckingham Branch

2009-05-25T09:00:00.000-04:00

Art in Context IX

2009-05-20T13:37:00.000-04:00

By Guest Blogger Rachel Swartz

Julian Schnabel's immaculate 2007 The Diving Bell and the Butterfly creates an ethereal, heartbreaking atmosphere that reminds me a great deal of Kathryn's works from the "One Day" series, or this piece from the "Journey" series. The setting for The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is a rehabilitation center on the Northern coast of France, and Schnabel, an accomplished artist and director, portrays the place lovingly in sandy taupes, purpley-gray blues, and a divine yellowy-white light. In Kathryn's works the beaches of the Outer Banks are shown in a similar way, with the hint of human and animal life adding the touch of emotion that pervades the entire duration of Schnabel's film. Having seen the film before being introduced to Kathryn's work, upon reviewing it's impossible to miss how similarly (and well, may I add) both artists have dealt with a similar subject and turned it into something much more meaningful than its face value.

Image of the Week, May 18, 2009: Pollack Vineyards

2009-05-19T17:03:00.000-04:00

Visual Fridays on theartklatch.com

2009-05-15T10:00:00.000-04:00

Check out my new weekly series of image postings "Visual Fridays" over on Art Klatch. Rita Bernstien's lyrical images gives us a little eye candy to get the weekend started...

Art in Context VIII

2009-05-13T13:21:00.000-04:00

By Guest Blogger Rachel Swartz

Rene Magritte's 1955 The Mysteries of the Horizon and Kathryn's piece of TRAVELERS FROM WHERE IN PLACE both utilize the power of the headpiece. As the royals wore crowns and religious groups their particular habiliments of the head, people wear hats to define who they are. Magritte's bowler hats, a common motif in his work, are visually interesting, their slight absurdity multiplied each time one appears. They also indicate a sameness, or lack of individuality, amongst the figures, or alternately that it is the same person. The two men of Kathryn's piece share this sameness, with their black ribboned, perforated white fedoras, light blue shirts, and black backpack straps. We know they are tourists, but do we know why they are there? More importantly, why they wear the same hat? It's a small hint of Surrealism captured alongside the sites of PLACE.

Art in Context VII

2009-05-04T13:12:00.000-04:00

By Guest Blogger Rachel Swartz

Andrew Wyeth's 1948 Christina's World, the image on the bottom, has become one of the defining images of American art, perhaps only second to Grant Wood's American Gothic in its communication of American values and lifestyles to the viewer. Kathryn's image from the "Journey" series is able to express a similar sense of Americana in just as sparse a composition. The tawny, shifting wheat of Wyeth's piece is echoed in the swaying grass of Kathryn's piece; compositionally, the ocean in Kathryn's work is analagous to the circle of mowed field around the house. Just as Wyeth's farmhouse places the scene in the American midwest and communicates all sorts of morals such an image conveys, the picnic table contextualizes Kathryn's work. The lone figure is somewhat like the yearning figure of Christina; the table begs for families and couples to enjoy the sun on its planks as Christina struggles to crawl to her home. It's a sense of melancholy lonliness, seperate from pity or depression, we feel in both pieces.

Art in Context VI

2009-04-27T14:58:00.000-04:00

By Guest Blogger Rachel Swartz

As last week I discussed elements of abstract expressionism in Kathryn’s work (linked), this week I’d like to show how the colors she captures in nature are related to the frenetic, raw pace of Lyrical Abstraction. The muted pastels in both this work from the “One Day” series and Ronnie Landfield’s For William Blake are pretty without being saccharine, muted but not sad; there’s a great balance in both compositions that is more apparent in the emotions aroused in the viewer than in the visual appearance of the work. Both pieces seem to benefit from chance but also show a measured attention to detail; it is the randomness, however, that is celebrated. Landfield’s piece exaults in the dancing, hopping lines of quiet but electric color while the entire premise of Kathryn’s piece – the setting of the sun – is reliant on intangible concepts such as time. Art as abstract as Landfield’s piece has the ability to seem both completely devoid of and dripping in meaning; this multiplicity also permeates Kathryn’s work. There are so many thoughts one may have when viewing this piece, aesthetic, emotional, and theoretical, and none of them are neither right nor wrong.

Join us for an Open Studio Friday May 1st, McGuffey Art Center

2009-04-24T09:45:00.000-04:00

Join us for an Open Studio Friday May 1st, in McGuffey Art Center! Celebrate First Fridays with us in Studio 27 from 5:30 to 7:30...
A selection of Kathryn's work from this past year will be on display, as well as refreshments for your enjoyment. See you there!

Art in Context V

2009-04-20T14:49:00.000-04:00

By Guest Blogger Rachel Swartz

It’s hard not to see shades of Rothko in Kathryn’s photographs of the sky. One of Kathryn’s favorite subjects, the horizontal rippling of color in the sunset is here represented in vibrant primary colors. Compare to Mark Rothko’s 1980 White Center, one of his later pieces; the deconstructed, raw blocks of color could seem to an abstract expressionist representation of the natural moment Kathryn captured in her piece. The jarring black line in between Rothko’s orange and white is like the crackling fire in the lower left of Kathryn’s composition; it breaks up the delineation without detracting from the power derived from the assemblage of hues. The elements in nature in Kathryn’s photograph – the lone cloud, the wood in the fire – are also related to the texture of Rothko’s painting. The painter’s hand is thus comparable to the photographer’s attention to detail; by capturing the fleeting, ephemeral natural moments in the composition Kathryn puts her own unique perspective into frame.

Art in Context IV

2009-04-14T20:58:00.000-04:00

By Guest Blogger Rachel Swartz

The motif of the Ferris wheel is a lyrical, evocative one for artists. There is a multiplicity of metaphors – childlike joy and wonder, the circular pattern, an expression of the machine age’s majesty – that the technology conveys by its placement in a composition. See Robert Delaunay’s 1912 The Cardiff Team, an early cubist painting based on different newspaper clippings. Delaunay often reduced objects to discs, and does so with his Ferris wheel; it is stairlike and blocky, more utilitarian than the carnival ride most are used to. The Ferris wheel is framed by deconstructed billboards a team of colorful rugby players, who lift their victorious center to catch a ball and seem to hoist him onto the object, onto its endless cycle of wonder. As Delaunay’s work quietly reproached and celebrated the commercialism of the seaside billboards, Kathryn’s pictures the hotels along a beach. This 2006 piece has the billboard framing the commercial oasis of hotels, with the Ferris wheel lording over the entire scene. Like a friendly giant the Ferris wheel seems to reclaim the ocean and nature for good; it’s almost turning counterclockwise, drawing the beachgoers into its playful insides. The entire piece is nostalgic without being specific, universal in its meaning by capturing a particularly interesting moment in this beach (and Ferris wheel)’s life.

Open Studio Sale!

2009-04-01T17:52:00.000-04:00

Join us for an Open Studio Sale appetizers and refreshments on Saturday, April 18 and Sunday April 19th from 10 to 5 in Studio 27, McGuffey Art Center!( here's the Facebook event.)

All of Kathryn's series will be available for purchase at an affordable price, come out and support your local art scene this weekend! Hope to see you there!

The Dramatized Image

2009-04-01T12:52:00.000-04:00

Guest Blogger Evan Johnson

“Truth has to be made vivid, interesting; it has to be ‘dramatized’…”
– documentary filmmaker Trinh Minh-Ha

Minh-Ha speaks of the need to dramatize truth in documentary film. Having recently viewed her film Surname Viet, Given Name Nam (1989), I thought about the ways in which this dramatization of truth might apply to photography. In the film, Minh-Ha adapts a highly reflexive technique in telling the story of Vietnamese women before and after the war. She stages readings of first-person accounts with actresses and juxtaposes text and spoken word on the screen; all in order to reveal the constructive nature of the filmmaking process.

Although Kathryn’s new series “The Great Divide” is a far cry from post-modern feminist documentary, Minh-Ha’s claim has an interesting connection to Kathryn’s new work. The photographs in the series all engage in a “dramatization” of the truth. Through the Argus and pinhole camera hybrid, Kathryn transforms our everyday surroundings into something unexpected and appealing. The railing 9th Street bridge becomes a shadowy ladder. The awning over the Pavilion transforms into biomorphic shadow on the ground. The visual truth of our everyday experience is invigorated and transformed through the camera. It encourages us to question our aesthetic experience of our surroundings and to look for that “dramatic” element.

Art in Context III

2009-03-30T14:24:00.000-04:00

By Guest Blogger Rachel Swartz

The tropics were a favored subject of the early moderns, a fascination that has spilled over into popular culture. The lush, exotic watery blues, sandy whites, rocky yellows and leafy greens of the Caribbean and Pacific islands were well-suited to the frenetic style of artists such as Paul Gauguin (see Tahitian Landscape, above). Kathryn’s 2006 work shares the same deep attraction to the rich sensuality of the islands, but her piece is unique in that it captures an image common in contemporary advertising photography, one that has come to represent relaxation, luxury, and attainable exoticism, but challenges this very motif through its compositional framing. The palm fronds gently caress the sand, rather than reaching towards the sky; there is no sign of industry, save for two boats and a windsurfing board that seem to suggest a provincial use of land rather than a commercial one. A creator is not wholly present, creating the sense that the viewer himself has stumbled upon this idyllic, quiet place devoid of human contamination, save for the lucky who stumble upon it.

"The journey" series now available in an exclusive limited edition magazine format.

2009-03-28T09:00:00.000-04:00

Kathryn Wagner's recent series titled "The Journey" is now available in limited edition magazine format. This series covers a figure's journey, illustrating the human condition's interaction within the landscape. This full color 28 page issue is very accessible, and gives you the series in it's entirety. Find it here.

"I feel that the artist should go about his work simply with great respect for his materials."

2009-03-27T16:59:00.000-04:00

By Guest Blogger Evan Johnson
The importance of the camera itself is central in thinking about Kathryn’s new series, “The Great Divide”. Using a pinhole camera and the traditional development process, the role of both tool and method are highlighted in a manner altogether different than with digital. Sculptor Alexander Calder wrote in 1943:

I feel that the artist should go about his work simply with great respect for his materials. As the painter must be conversant with his colors, their pigments and vehicles, so as to produce something which is not contrary to the laws of chemistry, so the sculptor must have a feeling for the materials he uses, whatever it may be , use it in accordance with its strength & nature.

When I look at this series, Kathryn’s experimentation with the pinhole speaks to a strong understanding of her materials. Calder says that a painter must speak the language of his colors, pigments, and tools. So to must a photographer master the conversation between light, shadow, line and camera. Be sure to join us for "The Great Divide" at McGuffey Studio 27 on April 3rd(5:30pm-7:30pm)!
ps. A new Calder sculpture will be installed in front of UVA's Peabody Hall this weekend, check it out!

*quote and photo courtesy of the Calder Foundation.

Take our survey!

2009-03-25T17:00:00.001-04:00

We love feedback. That is why we have devised this great survey to get a feel for what you think is most important.

Only five questions and you have single-handedly made an artist's day. Who thought it could be that easy?

Let us know what you think here.

April First Fridays - "The Great Divide"

2009-03-24T17:55:00.000-04:00

Join us for an exhibition of Kathryn's work of Friday, April 3 from 5:30-7:30 pm at McGuffey Art Center (here's the Facebook event!). The series will feature black and white photographs made entirely from traditional process and cameras; refreshments will be provided. See you there!

Art in Context II

2009-03-23T13:06:00.000-04:00

By Guest Blogger Rachel Swartz

These two pieces of art have little in common visually, but when deconstructed to their meanings and influences are a perfect pair. Shepherd Fairey’s ubiquitous, now-iconic Obama graphic is an exercise in the reduction of elements and a subsequent increase in the arresting power of the work; so is Kathryn’s recontextualizing photograph of the Lone Sailor statue at Golden Gate Park. The precedents for Fairey’s work have been discussed at length – the maybe-plagiarized AP photograph, communist posters, Michael Anderson’s “Big Brother” from his 1956 version of 1984; from all of these influences he extracts the most powerful elements to create the image that we all know today. The expressive eyes, calm forehead, and concerned mouth are all expressed in a few loud punches of color – iconic and loaded ones at that.

Kathryn’s photograph is a similar exercise in minimalism. You see the statue from the back, so the expressiveness of the face is hidden from us, but his popped collar and hat detail his persona. The composition is off-kilter, showing no sense of place or weight, disorienting and confusing the viewer, who is thrown into a one-on-one audience with this now arresting and terrifying figure. The man in the corner seems to be commanding some kind of zealous tourist army; the stark colors and molded wind in the statue’s coat send chills of winter up the viewer’s spine. Just like Fairey’s Obama, Kathryn’s work is able to instill a strong emotion with readable historical reference points into the viewer’s mind with a sparing use of space.

Join the club! Introducing 25.

2009-03-17T20:27:00.000-04:00

25 lucky people can now subscribe to a limited edition of 25 archival prints created monthly by Kathryn exclusively for the membership. Kathryn Wagner Photography is proud to introduce this exclusive artwork to you, at just $25 a month, sign up via the link below to support an emerging artist!

Art in Context I

2009-03-16T13:06:00.000-04:00

Perhaps more than any art movement in history, nature ruled the world of the Impressionists. Light was of huge importance; they painted outside, en plein air, and strove to capture the sensations of illumination and warmth that radiate from the sun through pure, unfiltered color.
Compare this work from Kathryn’s “Journey” series with Monet’s Landscape at Vetheuil. The obvious, coincidental similarities in subject matter and composition lessen with deeper contemplation. While devoid of human figures, both works allude to the relationship between space and nature through their point of view. Monet’s work sits comfortably, from far away and slightly below; we can see the painter standing where we view the work, dabbing paint on his canvas. The medium of photography allows Kathryn’s point of view to hover slightly above her picture, god-like; there is no sense of time in the composition, except for faint and far-off telephone poles, hinting to civilization on the other side. In Kathryn’s piece the river floats eerily into the road, conflating the viewer’s sense of reality, just as Monet’s farmhouses grow out of the fields of wheat on the hill.
An untrained criticism of photographers would be that there is no great skill involved. The comparison of these two works proves this wholly false. The lighting in each is expert, with Monet’s well rendered and Kathryn’s well timed; the colors in each highlight the warmth of the afternoon sun and the humid mist. Most importantly, both compositions are derived from their choice of subject matter chosen with a trained and inspired eye.

Rachel Swartz
guest blogger/intern

Journey Series...

2009-03-11T18:07:00.000-04:00

Artists as Farmers

2009-03-10T21:30:00.000-04:00

I have a new post over on ArtKlatch, about farming the place of Creativity. (check it out here)

Photography in context

2009-03-01T14:56:00.000-05:00

Rachel Swartz, Guest Blogger/Intern

As my colleague Evan will be discussed with you Kathryn’s personal inspirations and creative process, I’ll be writing about her work in the greater context of modern and contemporary art. I hope this series will shine a light on Kathryn’s work and her ability to pull the beauty out of nature, life, and experience, a concept that modern and contemporary artists have been representing for nearly two centuries through abstraction.

Before photography, artists struggled to capture what cubist Robert Delaunay called in 1912 “the eternal quality in art:” realism. Realism, “the very essence of beauty,” could not, as hard as painters and sculptors tried, ever be perfectly created; the fleeting nature of a time intensified the difficulty. It was the impressionists, Van Gogh and his compatriots, that first discovered abstraction’s ability to capture life’s moments of beauty; next Seurat used dots to mimic the experience of vision, then Picasso and Matisse in their epic experiments of shape and light reached what they thought was more beautiful than naturalistic painting, a sense of conception rather than vision. Color photography changed everything, and allowed artists to literally capture moments.

It is the only the most skilled photographers who take the moderns’ experiments in conception and apply them to their composition. The age of computers has allowed for even more manipulation of natural beauty, but I’d wager that Kathryn and artists stay truer to the vision of the moderns by not manipulating their compositions, and letting the viewer experience rather than see a moment in time.

"One Day" Inspiration and Interpretation

2009-02-25T16:25:00.000-05:00

Evan Johnson, Guest Blogger/Intern

We thought it would be interesting to share some of the inspiration behind and interpretation of the “One Day” series. Taken in North Carolina’s Outerbanks, the series addresses the relationship between travel, the horizon line, and landscape.

Kathryn takes her inspiration primarily from travel. In this series that interest in travel pairs with the themes of line. The relationship between the horizon line and the picture plane is subverted to challenge the viewer’s understanding of both landscape and style.

Personally, the series characterizes our relationship to the land and environment. Kathryn uses the camera to shift our interpretation of the landscape. That ability to alter the land through the image mirrors the various ways man visually or physically changes his environment. The expansive sky dwarfs the human figure in this series. Kathryn manages to remind us that the landscape still has the power to alter us.

Image of the week, February 24th 2009

2009-02-24T18:23:00.001-05:00

Art Klatch Launch Party this evening...Celebrate with us!

2009-02-20T10:23:00.000-05:00

You're invited to the Art Klatch Launch Party!

Join us in celebrating the launch of Charlottesville's newest art blog, Art Klatch, www.theartklatch.com
TONIGHT! Friday, February 20, 8:00-10:00pm @ the Garage.
Please RSVP to info@theartklatch.com

Art Klatch is a collaborative blog that is interested in community, collaboration, and conversation about contemporary art and its related critical discourse. The blog contributors are Charlottesville-based artists, curators, and arts administrators who hope to engage in and expand the local art dialogue.

Join the Art Klatch community for drinks, cookies, and critical conversation about contemporary art in Charlottesville! We're even planning to project the blog onto the side of the Garage. It's going to be a night. Hope to see you there!

The Garage is located on 1st Street across from Lee Park.

Image of the week, February 16th 2009

2009-02-18T19:57:00.000-05:00