Friday, February 22, 2008

Inamorata Book Project


For those of you who may be interested, there are still copies of "Inamorata" available.  If you are not familiar with the book, here is a little backround.

The first thing you may notice when you pick up a copy of "Inamorata" is the texture of its cover, which has been designed to have the feel of flesh.  The book is essentially an intimate portrait of a woman.  The images you will find inside are dark and emotive, beautifully printed on deep black pages.  The book is bound in hard cover, with french fold pages.  The inside of the black french fold pages are printed with a rich red ink.  The 24 page book has a very sensual feel.  AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts) awarded "Inamorata" as one of the best 50 books of 2006.  It has been printed in a small run of 500 copies, and can be purchased through Photo-eye Bookstore (in Santa Fe, New Mexico), or you can order a copy directly from me by emailing to wagnerphotographs@hotmail.com .

The cost of the book is $40.00 for a signed edition (plus shipping).
A limited edition which includes a signed and numbered silver print from the series, is available for $500.00 (plus shipping).

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Precious Prints


In my darkroom there is a cabinet filled with various sized boxes, that at one time held photographic paper waiting to be exposed to the light projected by my enlarger.  Many of the boxes, baring names of papers that haven't been produced in years, are now showing signs of their age.  Some with tattered edges and crushed corners, others with hints of their former contents scribbled across the lid in faded black marker, whose meaning is no longer of any relevance.
These boxes haven't sheltered light sensitive papers for some time, instead they hold numerous photographs... hundreds of them, in loose stacks with corners jutting out from every possible angle.  The prints are small, the largest measuring five by five inches, but most are much smaller.  Their subject matter is as varied as their sizes; odd landscapes, portraits of friends, a sleeping dog, various photo abstractions, and many snapshots of my daughter.
When I am in the darkroom, with a negative sandwiched in the neg carrier, I make a decision that will in some way determine the images destiny.  A simple choice... large or small.  I make each image in only one size, the size that best compliments its subject, and there are only two sizes that interest me... large or small.
The large prints are wonderful for all sorts of obvious reasons, and they work very well when occupying the spacious stark walls of many galleries, but small prints have a quality that is difficult to describe.  There is an intimacy between the print and its viewer.
Because I rarely exhibit these smaller images, I thought I would post a few of them to share with you, I hope you enjoy them as much as I do








Friday, February 15, 2008

Beachcombing



Studio Portraits 2


Studio Portraits


I really enjoyed this portrait series.  Most of the work I do happens outside of the studio, I get to travel to some amazing places (sometimes to not so amazing places), but I have the ability to use the surrounding environment to aid in composition and creating spacial relationships.  In this group of images, I rely only on the subjects, letting form and expression, and color carry the images.