Landscapes: Honorable Mention 2022 (amateur)
McCord-Craig_Approaching Storm, Alabama Hills, CA by Craig McCord (United States)
ENTRY DESCRIPTION
While exploring the unique metamorphosed volcanic rock formations in the Alabama Hills of California, I was intrigued by their alien like shapes and patternes. This particular afternoon there developed a storm, which added an ominous feeling to this other world landscape.
AUTHOR
I am a fine art black and white landscape photographer born in 1951 in Jacksonville, Florida. My photographic interests began in the early 1970’s while in the United States Air Force. Over the years, I immersed myself in black and white photography after building my own darkroom in my home basement.
I tell people I am largely self-taught and a slow learner, as I continue to hone my skills and creative eye as my work evolves. Early influencers were icons such as Ansel Adams, Brett Weston, John Sexton and the color greats Elliot Porter and David Muench. Each contributed in some way to my creative development.
In 2006 I made the transition to digital capture, thereupon focusing mostly on color landscapes. Two years ago, I had become weary of much of what I was producing in color, as well as the direction I felt landscape photography was going. Consequently, I almost quit photography altogether. But then it occurred to me that maybe I had just lost my way.
Fortunately, I listened to an inner voice telling me I needed to revisit my black and white roots. I came to refer to this as “returning to the cradle”. With renewed passion, I am now producing work with which I feel a greater connection, and which offers more freedom of expression.
I currently reside in Kingsville, Missouri. Selections of my work exist in private and corporate collections. In 2016 the National Park Service highlighted my work as part of their centennial celebration and now have several large prints of my work on display in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways Visitor Center. I am a contributing author to Visual Wilderness and recently received recognition in Black and White Magazine and Monovision Awards.
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