It seems that what is valued today is sharp, fully resolved digital perfection. That once achieved, can be endlessly
re-printed for mass consumption, each one undistinguishable from another. Ink on paper. Katastrophe means creating handmade images that are unique because of their imperfections.

The word, “Katastrophe” is from Ancient Greek. It means to ruin or undo. Katastrophe celebrates the imperfections of the hand-created image. Each one is unique and un-duplicatable. An image created in this manner requires that I work loosely, bending rules, allowing myself to create mistakes, seeing what directions they could drive the work. Exploiting the mistakes that I found useful and folding them into the process. This process dictates that I choose to use photographic papers that are decades expired and use unconventional films. They act unpredictably, creating tones and textures that were unforseen. Katastrophe images have their gelatin photo emulsions on the film and the papers deliberately distressed or melted away so that other emulsions could be reapplied and exposed. Images that come out of these processes are almost impossible to predict, let alone duplicate. The objects that I have chosen to photograph are part of my visual vocabulary. They include mechanical tools that are beautifully designed and have been used to create works of art. I have created symbols of time, imagination and beauty because one requires the investment of the others.

The images are arresting and provocative because I believe that traditional photography is at a crossroads. While some may continue to shoot film as a quirky alternative to shooting digitally I choose to embrace the history and processes of almost 200 years of traditional photography and use it to create images that are unique and tangible.

I choose Katastrophe.