An Interview with Photographer & Artist Lee Craig

Black and white, or colourful, striking and unique. I use these words to describe Lee Craig’s photography and artwork.

Lee delves deeply into the beauty of America. From sublime shots of the Midwest, such as majestic Arizona scenery, the wonders of Route 66, New Mexico and a personal favourite of mine, Sedona’s red rocks.

Lee also finds the riches of forgotten Americana in her images. She turns rusty old pick up trucks, ancient mining cars, weather-worn, tool filled, sheds into vibrant and original artworks, that would look fabulous on any wall. Weaving a rich American tapestry with her work, Lee also photographs beautiful flowers, churches, animals and more.

Lee also creates outstanding abstract artwork. With colours that are vivid and pop and textures that look organic and gloriously deep and rich that look like they would feel metallic to the touch.

You can buy Lee’s artwork on Fine Art America: https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/lee-craig.html

You can also buy her work on Pixels: https://lee-craig.pixels.com/

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Lee is also on Twitter

Please talk about where you grew up and where you live now?

I am a photographer and visual artist, enjoying the freedom that comes with doing something that I love for a living. I often jokingly refer to myself as a recovering portrait, event, and commercial photographer. I sold my studio business to a young and energetic photographer a few years ago. Several times a year I load the equipment and head out on the open road with camera in hand and photos in mind. There isn’t anything I enjoy much more than a good road trip. I’ve covered the majority of the Mother Road…Route 66, and only have from near the Grand Canyon to the end in California left to follow. My dream road trip is to start at the Mexico-Arizona border and work my way north through 7 national parks to the Canadian border. I was born and raised a few miles from the geographical center of the United States in a small town in the state of Kansas. My husband, two sons and I moved to Indiana in the late 1980’s.

What kind of photographic education have you had and what camera do you use and what lens do you use?

Although I’d owned several Instamatic type cameras previously, I started my love of photography with a 35mm film Nikon. I eventually added two medium format film cameras, a Mamiya RZ67 and a Hasselblad 501. I soon added a darkroom to my growing hobby. There was nothing like the joy of standing over the pan watching the images appear. Each time felt like Christmas morning! I went back to school for additional art history and fine art classes after my children were grown. While there, I also learned the ins and outs of that new field of photography, digital photography. Yes, it was new then! It was not long before I had added several digital pro cameras and lots of new glass to my arsenal. The growing clientele at my studio helped to pay for my new addiction which was lenses. I would have to say that my favorite portrait lens was always the 85mm and currently I favor a 105mm f/2.8 macro for my abstract work. I still shoot with the Nikon D700 as it is a workhorse and I’ve never had any problems with it. I actually own 3 of them, which was due to a need for speed during my commercial and event photography days.

What do you enjoy most about the photographic process?

What you will find in my collections as you browse is a return to my fine art roots. It is an ever-changing path for me. Mine is an ever-evolving art style, dependent on mood, physical stamina and most often weather. I’m currently working on a series of still life images and artworks that evolves around feathers.

Your color images are striking and vibrant, what post processing do you do?

As for my post-processing…I don’t do much, never having been a huge user of digital programs and digital filters. My major talent in the studio is lighting and I’ve always found that I prefer to do the perfecting in-camera as opposed to on-computer.

With so many interesting and unique images, how do you find subjects to shoot and what are your favourite locations?…

I have the advantage of living in a natural wonderland…ten acres of natural woodlands and water features. I am also a lover of junkyards, abandoned places and the American Southwest. These are the locations where the majority of my current work originates.

With your abstract artwork, where does your inspiration come from?

The macro photography resulting in my abstract collections came to be due to my burning desire but lack of talent for painting!

Lee Craig

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