Searching for a Sense of Self by Michael Bowman

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 12:34:02 -0400

Michael Bowman’s extraordinary self portraiture within abandoned buildings is the focus of this week’s show on Hungry Walls. We are presenting 12 images this week, each one with its own story of strength, gravity, melancholy and contemplation, but viewed together the photographs are a patchwork of the ups and downs of life, ups and downs that we as human beings collectively share. These photographs are deeply personal both to the artist and to the viewer, as in some ways he photographs us all.

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Corridors by Michael Bowman

Wed, 9 Sep 2009 16:40:47 -0400

It takes a considerable amount of courage to enter an abandoned, rotting, structurally compromised building, but to emerge from this building with artwork that haunts and inspires and amazes the eye is true talent and vision. Asbestos, lead and mold are no match for the urban explorer and photographer, Michael Bowman. In his second show with us, Michael takes us down a very personal path. Please click here to enter the viewing room and experience “Corridors”.

Michael Bowman: The Interview

Wed, 2 Sep 2009 19:48:40 -0400

In the coming weeks, Hungry Walls will be taking a turn to art of a darker nature. We are honored to present the photography of Michael Bowman, our featured artist for September. Michael’s photography is dark to be sure, some may even find it depressing, but look deeper and you’ll see life and beauty in his photos of decay and darkness. His artwork is challenging and engrossing, though-provoking and fascinating. He takes us deep into abandoned buildings, many of which have now been demolished, and shows us what remains in these desolate places. His first show, Orphans, is now live.

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Who gave you your first camera?

I had been shooting with my parents and older brother's cameras when I was younger, however the first camera that was solely mine was a Canon EOS Rebel I bought around 1995 when I was a freshman in college. A curious aside is that I bought the camera with money that I received in reimbursement for medical bills stemming from a broken jaw (long story). If I had to think back though and point to one person that gave me a camera and said "go at it" it would be my oldest brother Steven who used to give me his manual Canon while in the stands at Rangers Hockey games and let me experiment with it.

Do you shoot film or digital?

A little bit of both. Starting out I was purely a film guy. I remember having conversations with my college Photo teacher Dan McCormack where I stated basically "I am never going digital." And he agreed. Well this was 1996 when digital was about 1.8 megapixels...I did a shoot with Dan a few months ago and he was shooting not only digital photo stills but also video...oh how the times have changed. These days I always carry a Holga in the trunk of my car and I have access to a darkroom through work, so I would say that film is still a pretty big part of what I do.

Canon or Nikon?

Canon, Canon and Canon.

Black & White or Color?

I am still a college photo student at heart. That being the case I am still stuck in the intricacies of contrast, tone and shadow of black and white...only difference is that my darkroom is mainly computerized these days. There's some color out there, but they are few and far between. Basically, only if the color helps tell the story.

Would you say you have a set style, or are you always evolving? What's on the horizon for your art?

As far as style, I would have to say it depends on the subject. I think if you were to do a lineup of my portrait work, or urbex (urban exploration) work mixed in with the works of a few others, that those who know me and what I do, would be able to say "that one there...that's Michael." That being said, I think it is the nature of artists to always evolve, try new things and grow. If they don't, well things get repetitive, stagnant and eventually untrue to the artist. We all change as we grow, get older and more experienced. That being said, I have no idea what tomorrow holds. I have gone through periods where I didn't take a photo for five years. I would like to think that will never happen again, but who knows.

Where is your favorite place to shoot?

My favorite place(s) to shoot are the inaccessible, the dark recesses and the blue highways. These are not only physical tangible places, but can also be mental ones as well.

Where is home for you?

Home for me is alone, behind the wheel of my car heading down an unexplored road. Always has been, it's in my DNA.

A lot of people reading this will be surprised that photography is not your primary source of income. What do you do?

I work for a local University doing I.T. work. Every chance I get I am shooting, morning commute, lunch time, after work, sitting in with photo classes, basically every free moment - and when they're not "free" I make them into photo explorations.

Any thoughts of pursuing photography full time?

Of course. At one point I even wrote a book journaling my travels during the summers off from college, set to my photographs...I have a stack of 30-40 rejection letters. Those are real reminders that it's not easy, and for the time being not possible.

Any current or upcoming gallery shows (aside from Hungry Walls, of course!)?

Yes, in the upcoming weeks I will be showing work in a show focusing on the Hudson River Quadracentennial in Poughkeepsie, NY. In addition to that I am also hanging a show in New Paltz this week, and have my work hanging in a few restaurants throughout the valley.

How long have you been a photographer? At what point did you start sharing your work? And how has the sharing of that work changed you as a photographer?

I have been a photographer my whole life. I have been capturing images with a camera for about 15 years. I didn't start earnestly sharing work until about three years ago when I started uploading to some artists’ sites on the web. I would like to think that sharing work hasn't changed me. I think when a photographer starts shooting images to fulfill someone else's tastes or expectations - well they are no longer being true to themselves. They have become more like politicians, catering to popular expectations and tastes. I have seen it happen to many fine photographers, and it is sad.

What is your eye looking for when you're out on a shoot?

It's looking for things that reflect the essence of who I am. I have always said that a great photograph shows the world as it is, not how it should be.

Why abandonments?

Lets just say I can identify with an abandoned structure better then I identify with most people.

Let's talk about influences... where does this style of yours come from? We'd love to know what kind of movies you watch, books you read, artists you admire, music you listen to...

Tragedy. I can say that is my biggest influence. Much of what I listen to, read and admire looking at comes from it. I like photos that not only look pretty but tell a story. The better the story the better the photo. I like Robert Franks and Wegee in that regard. In literature, I can point to the writings of Jack Kerouac - it's not a coincidence that he was chosen to write the introduction to Frank's "The American's". The best thing I have read lately would be "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy. I would love to photograph the world reflected in that book.

What are your interests other than photography?

In addition to photography and work, I am also a volunteer firefighter and currently serve as an Interior Active Fireman and also the President of the Cold Spring Fire Company. Despite the dark artwork, I enjoy having a good time - most people are utterly shocked when they first associate my work with the guy behind the lens.

Do you ever get in a photo funk? If so, what usually gets you out of it?

Nope. Never. Maybe. Nothing cures a photo funk better then a long drive, radio blasting, hitting the road without a plan.

What does it mean for you that people have your art hanging on the walls of their homes?

It means that someone for a brief second understood my vision and that the moment meant enough to them to keep a memento of it to experience over and over. That understanding means more to me then anything.

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Flora of the Cosmos by Fran Stone

Sun, 23 Aug 2009 10:18:54 -0400

From Fran: With my final installation of August, I want to take you for a trip through space in which you determine the return. Flowers are such great captures to take up-close in the macro. Two years ago, I had just purchased a 50mm / macro 2.5 combo lens when I took the majority of these photos. It was such a delight, upon reviewing my photos after low-light metering in the wide-open apertured snap, to see how the background light would escape and focus instead onto detail of the flowers thus creating an otherworldly place parallel to outer space. Through time, with the 50mm lens and macro capability, my creative pursuits with photography endured as I would only tote this lens with me and do what I could to make the image work - this is the beauty of photography is what stretches us from the confines of our self, perspective, and habitual box. Take flight here through space in time... to the outer depths.

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Breathe a Little Jig by Fran Stone

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 03:32:38 -0400

In Fran’s words, “Curtains are my muse. I look for them and often find them where ever I choose to tread. No matter the place that I call Home - curtains are there to welcome me, embrace me, hide me, release me, and to move me into Being. Curtains do not leave us. Curtains blow in the wind as flexibly as we learn to blow with them. These three self portraits in between the motion of those curtains are precise depictions that result when I do consider using a tripod. There are moments in time when opportunity rises and I arrange my camera on the tripod, with timer on, with light metered as I want, with an approximated focus of where I anticipate to be present, and simply I shoot - into the open. Whichever captures that hold and create an indelible reflection of that space in time, arrive with persistence, and come to You here.”

Please step into the viewing room by clicking here!

hungryblog.

Searching for a Sense of Self by Michael Bowman

Corridors by Michael Bowman

Michael Bowman: The Interview

Flora of the Cosmos by Fran Stone

Breathe a Little Jig by Fran Stone