About the Artist

Nan, my artist wife, and I live in Havre de Grace, Maryland where I am presently working on a project I call Havre de Grace Street. This includes random street shots, First Fridays, occasional events and some local performance shooting. In the process I am shooting both rehearsals and performances for Rogue Swan, a local Vaudeville/Musical/Dance group (I do give them access to color versions when they need them).

This project, with its concentration on people, is certainly different from preceding projects. Maybe this is what led to my switch away from DSLRs to Fuji mirrorless cameras.

Between 2006 and 2016 my primary focus was on my Easter Island project. This culminated in two books: The Moon has been Eaten and, later, a very limited edition Volume II. I also have two limited edition books from what I call the Negative Years – film photography from before the turn of the century: Acadia, a Portrait and Looking Back. All of my books are available in reader optimized PDF format for free download – which they get a lot of.

Many of the images in The Moon has been Eaten were featured in a one-man show at the Museo Antropológico Padre Sebastián Englert in Hanga Roa, Easter Island in 2008.

I am working on completing the Easter Island project with a third volume of The Moon has been Eaten – taking a more comprehensive and personal turn, with as many images as the first two volumes combined. Again it will be a very limited print version, combined witha free pdf file available here.

As far as my perspective on photography goes, I don't claim any great message in my work. And I've avoided faking it because I've known far too many artists who gradually come to believe speels they originally self consciously espoused to impress others. I do what I feel driven to do, it's an artist thing. And I make very little effort to promote the results, preferring to emerse myself in my next image. If I could make one observation it would be that I first and foremost try to make images that reflect they way I see the subject, trying to make it worth making. Most of the effort is in image preparation.

As far as other exhibitions and awards, prizes, inclusions, publications, etc. – all that resides in a box that I open only to shove the next pretty much meaningless tear-sheet, etc. into.

BA in History, Lincoln University, PA.

MA in Liberal Arts, St Johns College, Annapolis, MD

Chaired ArtQuest Arts Festival for six+ years – an annual arts event encouraging interaction between artists and the general public, free to the public and artists alike. AQ provided free tents and display system for visual artists to showcase their work. Real, original fine art and fine craft only. Young artists were encouraged to try their hand at different venues of visual art under the direction of professional artisans. There is no reason community art festivals should charge a fee to artists.

CONTACT

eMail: jcraig4357@gmail.com

Phone: 443-502-2958 / 443-643-6348

or through RiverView Gallery, Havre de Grace, MD 410-939-6401

Cameras and Equipment

Presently using Fuji mirrorless system for most shooting – although I occasionally enjoy working a series of images shooting RAW using the iPhone.

TALKS

Contact me if interested in my talk and slide show on the Easter Island project.

I adapt it to the audience, depending on whether they are primarily photographers

or other interested parties.

Caricature by Tom Chalkley, Baltimore, MD

www.tomchalk.com