In the name of Art?

Desert Fire, Mojave, 2024

Back in 2005 I was traveling across America in an old Dodge Truck with my 8/10” camera looking to make my mark in the photography world when I received a call from my agent in London telling me there had been a flood in New Orleans and if I would go and photograph it. I have always been interested on photographing places that have seen better days, for example my Salton Sea work, but this was different. People had lost their lives, their homes, and the situation was still very much in flux and something a Photojournalist (remember those) needed to cover, not a fine art photographer. I refused the offer, much to the annoyance of my agency as I was not uncomfortable with the situation.

Reflecting on the ongoing LA fires, I feel the same way as I did about Katrina. No matter how dramatic things may appear photographically, I would never consider it an option for a photograph. I want my work to evoke an emotion, maybe happiness, calm, or even sadness, but never one of horror. My hope is that fine art photographers don’t do what they did during Katrina and descend by the dozen in the name of art..