73: Mark Klett

73: Mark Klett

Mark Klett's a geologist-turned-photographer. He describes his work as "the intersection of cultures, landscapes and time." Fortunately, his work hasn't gone unrecognized; he's received fellowships from (among others) the Guggenheim Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, and his work is held in over 80 museum collections worldwide. He's currently the Regents' Professor of Art at Arizona State University.

1. List five things on your Inspiration Wall (real or imagined).
Recent proofs
Permits to the Goldwater Bombing Range
Maps of Northern Arizona and the Kaibab
Family photos
Pieter Bruegel's painting of the Fall of Icarus

2. What's your dream camera set-up?
I already have it: a 56 megapixel digital back that can work from either a Mamiya medium format body or a small view camera (Silvestri).

3. What was the last thing you shot?
The Grand Canyon last week, for the project "Charting the Canyon" with Byron Wolfe. But actually I photograph everyday with a small digital point and shoot.

4. What is the next thing you're going to shoot?
More Grand Canyon - and everyday. After that, I don't know what the next project will be. I do have a book that I plan to publish soon on Wendover, Nevada's former airbase and the first atomic bomb.

5. What's something you want Phoenix to know about you?
After 28 years I'm getting acclimated to the heat.

The Creatives, So Far: