Michael Crouser (born 1962) is an American fine art and commercial photographer best known for his black and white photographs that merge fine art and documentary imagery.[1]
Michael Crouser | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 27, 1962 |
| Occupation | Fine art photographer |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Saint John's University - Collegeville, Minnesota |
| Notable works | Photography monographs Los Toros , Dog Run and Mountain Ranch |
| Notable awards | George Eastman / Power of the Image Award 2014, 1st Prize in Fine Art Books at the 2008 International Photography Awards for Los Toros |
| Website | |
| www | |
Biography
editLos Toros (Twin Palms Publishers 2007), Crouser's first monograph, was awarded first prize in the Fine Art Book category at the 2008 International Photography Awards,[2] and his prints can be found in the permanent collections of the Minneapolis Institute of Art and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.[3] In 2012 Leica Gallery of New York City presented Michael Crouser: A Mid-Career Retrospective, featuring the work of four distinct series from 25 years of photographs.[4] Crouser eschews digital methods in his work, preferring Tri-X film and the traditional darkroom.[5] He currently divides his time between his hometown of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Brooklyn, New York.[6]
Los Toros
editCrouser's seminal work resulted from fifteen years of photographing bullfights in Spain, Mexico, South America and France.[7] He shot 900 rolls of film[8] on this project, and then spent a year-and-a-half in the darkroom developing his diffused, toned, trademark style. He then spent six additional years shooting bullfighting scenes with this unique style in mind,[8] finishing the shooting for this project in 2001.[9] Twin Palms published his critically acclaimed, award-winning monograph Los Toros, with an introduction by Nobel Prize winner Mario Vargas Llosa, in 2007.[7]
Dog Run
editCalled by Toronto's The Globe and Mail "perhaps the least sentimental book of dog photos ever printed,"[10] Crouser's second monograph, Dog Run (Viking Studio, 2008), is an exploration of canine pets and how they act outside in the influence of their owners.[11] The book was photographed over the course of three years in Manhattan's Tompkins Square Park Dog Run and in Minneapolis, at the Lake of the Isles Dog Park.[11]
Sin Tiempo
editThe Spanish translation for "without time", this ongoing project (1986–present) seeks the chance crossings of certain moments, faces, setting and vignettes that exhibit no evidence of popular culture or elements, which would fix the images in a specific time.[1]
Mountain Ranch
editCrouser's most recent series; an exploration of the disappearing world of Colorado cattle ranchers, published as a book by the University of Texas Press in 2017.
References
edit- ^ a b Tannenbaum, Barry (1 February 2012). "Time and Again". Shutterbug Magazine.
- ^ Jensen, Brooks (Sep–Oct 2012). "Sin Tiempo - Without Time". LensWork.
- ^ "Verve Gallery of Photography". Michael Crouser. Verve Gallery of Photography.
- ^ Dykstra, Jean (February 2012). "Michael Crouser at Leica Gallery". Photograph Magazine.
- ^ "Insights". Silver and Light, Tri-X and Chemicals, and Ruined Clothes. Communication Arts. Archived from the original on 2010-02-05. Retrieved 2010-02-02.
- ^ O'Neil, Clare (13 January 2012). "The Art of Finding a Photographic Voice". Michael Crouser: A Mid-Career Retrospective. NPR.
- ^ a b Cannella, Stephen (19 November 2007). "Capturing the Cruel Fiesta". Sports Illustrated.
- ^ a b Burnstine, Susan (April 2010). "American Connection". B&W Magazine (UK).
- ^ Skinner, Peter (October 2007). "Michael Crouser - Making Room for Personal Projects". Rangefinder.
- ^ "Picture Perfect: Illustrated Book of the Week". Toronto Globe and Mail. 24 January 2009.
- ^ a b Ringwald, Christopher (January 2008). "Dog Day Afternoon". Photo District News.
External links
edit- www.michaelcrouser.com
- Verve Gallery of Photography
- Kodak Closeup With Michael Crouser
- NPR Picture Show: Michael Crouser - The Art of Finding a Photographic Voice
- Photograph Magazine: Michael Crouser at Leica Gallery[permanent dead link]
- Kodak 1000 Words - Michael Crouser: A Mid-Career Retrospective