Thomas Joshua Cooper

                           I came across Thomas Joshua Cooper, durring a tutorial with Carlton. There apears to be a stillness in his finished work.

The above image is titled:

Rapids on the River North Esk by Thomas Joshua Cooper

silver gelatin print.

The above image is titled:

Rapids on the River North Esk, Part 2 by Thomas Joshua Cooper

silver gelatin print.

 

There is a dark feel to the images, although his photograhs still have a softness, a stillness. Cooper contrates on the detail, often missed or over looked by many other people.

 

The above image is titled:

Last Light by Thomas Joshua Cooper

silver geltain print.

The above image is titled:

The Rhone by Thomas Joshua Cooper

sliver geltain print.

The photographic work of Thomas Joshua Cooper explores the  elements (light, time, gravity) through an intense process of enquiry into the nature of land (geology, geography, vegetation) and the flow of water (rivers, sea). Cooper's photographs present spaces of symbolic and historical importance. Recently he has been making an increasing number of journeys of exploration, travelling to the ends of the world - to the northern most part of Europe, to the southernmost part of habitation, and intends to continue making more of these working trips to the north-east-west-south parts of civilisation.

Since 1971 Cooper has exhibited in numerous solo and group exhibitions in the USA, Europe and the UK and his work is included in a great number of publications. During 2002- 03 he has had four solo exhibitions - in New York, Berlin, Italy and Lanzarote.

The above image is titled:

'Late Winter Light - The Source of the River North Esk Rushing from Loch Lee' Glen Esk, Old Angus, Scotland

silver geltain print.

The above image is titled:

'Plotting the River - Rhinefalls no.1From the Left Bank of the Rhine River' Neuhausen, Kanton Schafthausen, Switzerland

silver geltain print.

The capturing of any one image can involve days, weeks and months of preparation, arduous travel and considerable efforts to achieve. The locations are found on a map, tracked down and then photographed, each place the subject of a single negative taken with a weighty antique field camera. They are meditative, almost philosophical images, exquisitely printed by the artist in the 19th century manner with layers of silver and gold chloride.
It seems that just as Cooper often emarks on a journey to a chosen location, so to I hope to capture many images from my travels, whether it be abroad or on the British isle's, I enjoy capturing images that hopefully brings the viewer nearer to the stunning landscape and detail I have been lucky enough to see for my own eyes.

The above image is titled:

'The Source Stream of the River Forth Spilling into Loch Chon' Near Inversnaid, The Trossachs, Old Stirlingshire, Scotland

sliver geltain print.

The above image is titled:

Sea-Fog - North-most - The Mid North Atlantic Ocean and Caldeiro, Ilha do Corvo, The Isle of Corvo. The Azores, Portugal, 2004

sliver geltain print.

For me the above image, really breaks rules. Cooper has a focus on detail, although not that obvouisous to many a viewers eye. The image has an abstract feel, Cooper knows this but for me the title 'Sea Fog' says that it might just look like the title its called 'Sea fog'. I am not sure that every viewer may understand what the photographer is trying to say, but then again I dont think Cooper is trying to hid anything, he is simply shooting fog...

Further information on the impressive Cv, of Thomas Joshua Cooper can be found at http://www.inglebygallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Cooper_CV09_Web.pdf