The legendary photographer Paul Strand was quoted as saying, “The artist’s world is limitless. It can be found anywhere far from where he lives or a few feet away. It is always on his doorstep.” Strand, in this statement, dispels the belief many beginning photographers seem to share, the notion that, in order to create greatness, one must travel to exotic locations far away.
A well-executed photograph can record the most mundane subjects and speak volumes. Think of Edward Weston’s Pepper, 1930 or Imogene Cunningham’s The Unmade Bed. These are just two examples from masters of their field creating beauty from their everyday surroundings.
As a commercial and fine art photographer, I’ve been blessed with the privilege to visit and photograph a good part of the world. Those travels have given me the chance to explore lands and cultures that many don’t get to experience. For example, a recent shoot took me to several very remote villages in the Ulpan Valley region of Guatemala to photograph Mayan culture. An example of that shoot is shown below.
As much as I’ve enjoyed these travels, however, some of my best experiences have been right here around my hometown, photographing Nashville’s creative community for this great publication. It is a pleasure to be able to capture the personalities of those who are typically on the other side of the art.
Great art can emerge from your own back yard, as well as Guatemala or Paris. The successful artist can always find a world of beauty “on his doorstep.”
Jerry Atnip
Photographer
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