34: John Wagner
John Wagner studied art with an emphasis on traditional silver and non-silver processes. His interest in photography has landed him all over the world, but he writes that his focus never relies simply on location. He has this to say about his process:
"I've always been intrigued with the idea that each photograph I create records a moment in my own life. Sometimes the photograph relates directly to what is happening in my personal life and other times it is not as obvious. This information, recorded first on film and later manipulated in the darkroom, in a way, becomes a visual diary or journal."
Read more about Wagner and his work after the jump ...
List five things on your inspiration wall (real or imaginary):
- My daughter Maisie inspires me. As thoughtful and sweet as can be, she is a favorite subject of many of my photographs. I hope she knows how important she is to me and that she will one day cherish the images as much as I do.
- Friends.
- When it comes to photography, I'm a traditionalist and have been inspired by the work of many photographers whose images are honest and thoughtful without being over-complicated or pretentious.
- Large cities. I love the movement and commotion.
- Music. Unfortunately, it's not the type most others want to hear.
2. What was your last big project?
A series of photographs taken at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. The landscape is endless, an enormous dry salt lake bed. Every year, people travel here to attempt new land speed records in every sort of vehicle -- vintage hot rods, motorcycles, and contemporary streamlined rockets on wheels. The images are a study of the vast landscape as well as the people who return to it year after year to celebrate the culture of speed.
I've also just finished a smaller, self-assigned project, "24 hours in Phoenix." This was just a simple exercise to shoot one image every hour for an entire day, using Phoenix as a backdrop.
3. What's your next big project?
Bonneville is also my next big project, or at least a continuation of the last. I'll be working on the Salt Flats in August and again in October.
It needs to continue to grow and develop. To do that, it needs the support of the community. Phoenix has an enormous pool of talent and people should have better access to it.
5. What's something you want Phoenix to know about you? (And if you're game, what's something you really don't want Phoenix to know about you?)
I'm not nearly as grumpy as I appear to be ... well, most of the time.
The Creatives, so far:
99. Brian Boner
98. Carol Panaro-Smith
97. Jane Reddin
96. Adam Dumper
95. Mayme Kratz
94. Daniel Tantalean
93. Yuri Artibise
92. Lisa Starry
91. Paul Hoeprich
90. Betsy Schneider
89. Mary Shindell
88: Gabriel Utasi
87: Tiffany Egbert
86. Angela Cazel Jahn
85. Dayvid LeMmon
84. Beatrice Moore
83. Michelle J. Martinez
82. Carrie Bloomston
81. Paul Porter
80. Rachel Bess
79. Karolina Sussland
78. Aaron Abbott
77. Mary Lucking
76. Erin Sotak
75. Greg Esser
74. Matthew Mosher
73. Mark Klett
72. Tony Carrillo
71. Paul Morris
70. Joe Pagac
69. Alison King
68. JJ Horner
67. Kim Porter
66. Marco Rosichelli
65. Heather Hales
64. Amy Lamp
63. Kevin Vaughan-Brubaker
62. Lindy Drew
61. Robbie Pfeffer
60. Neil Borowicz
59. Lynn Fisher
58. Tanner Woodford
57. David Tinapple
56. Casebeer
55. Tom Leveen
54. Patti Parsons
53. Tedd McDonah
52. Mike Maas
51. Chris Todd
50. Monica Aissa Martinez
49. Stefan Shepherd
48. Jenny Poon
47. Matt Moore
46. Andrea Hanley
45. Julie Hampton
44. Ted Decker
43. Saskia Jorda
42. Michael Bergfalk
41. Scott Baxter
40. Carrie Marill
39. Kobina Banning
38. Suzanne Falk
37. Jon Haddock
36. Kade Twist
35. Cindy Dach