Picturing the Landscape
Photography has long served as a means of mapping our relationship to the land, and these conversations explore the many ways artists respond to the natural world around them. From Barbara Bosworth’s expansive visions of meadow, sea, and sky, to Kristine Potter’s psychological reimagining of Southern myths, David Benjamin Sherry’s vibrant and psychedelic explorations of color, land, and queer identity, Lois Conner’s monumental meditations on landscape and history, and Ron Jude’s layered examinations of natural phenomena—these episodes reveal the diverse ways the environment shapes both image and practice.
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Kristine Potter discusses her path from studying with Mark Steinmetz and Philip-Lorca diCorcia to finding creative freedom after moving to Nashville. Potter also reflects on her Dark Waters project, its ties to regional Murder Ballads, and her subversion of gender expectations.
Photographer Barbara Bosworth has a warm and wide-ranging conversation about teaching, choosing locations to make work, using the 8×10 camera, working in black and white and color, Bosworth’s expansive definition of landscape, and making books.
“In the earlier days, for me, I would be traveling to places to make the pictures, but soon began to think, no, that’s not right. I don’t know those places like I know my place. So I began to sort of think about just being right here and what am I missing right here?” – Barbara Bosworth
Ron Jude discusses his book 12Hz as well as some of his previous publications. Jude talks about his inclination to create unsentimental photographic works while keeping within the traditional practice of photography and his drive to bend and upend narrative structure.
David Benjamin Sherry shares a deeply personal conversation about the influences and choices that shaped his photographic practice, exploring his relationship with nature and his commitment to environmental justice.
“What I can do as an artist, what I’m meant to do is to be out here in the southwest where climate change is happening way more rapidly than other places, and be this communicator and deliver something deeper about the earth and what’s happening.” – David Benjamin Sherry
Lois Conner talks about the importance of understanding the history of a place before setting out to photograph while at the same time letting go of what you think you know. Conner talks about some of her most important teachers and mentors and how they helped shape her process and practice.
We hope this collection will deepen your appreciation for the many ways artists engage with the landscape. Discover more episodes of the PhotoWork Podcast and join us in celebrating our upcoming 100th episode by sharing it with your friends.