Nathanael Cox — Contemporary Art Curator Magazine

May 1

May 1 Nathanael Cox

Biography

Nate is a New Jersey based photographer. He originally learned 35mm photography in the late 2000s when dark rooms were still prevalent and digital photography hadn’t yet completely dominated the landscape. After a taking a long break, and a few detours, he started to learn digital photography and resumed exploring the world through his lens. Nathanael lists Stephen Wilkes and Peter Lik as major influences/inspirations. His style leans towards breathless landscapes and sprawling cityscapes.

Artist Statement

Man has a natural inclination to explore. Whether it be pushing the boundaries of our technical limitations or seeking to map out the world and the galaxy, exploration is a staple of the human experience. As a classically trained engineer, I can attest to this statement. Through my photography, I seek to merge the technicality of digital photography and the beauty of nature in order to inspire the viewer to travel and expand one’s horizons.

What first prompted you to think of becoming an artist?

I would say that I became an artist by accident. I learned film photography in high school and really enjoyed it, however, I had to put that on hold when I went off to university because I didn't have time to juggle photography and a rigorous class schedule. At that time dark rooms were also starting to die out and I sadly didn't have a camera of my own to continue shooting with which also contributed to my "photography Dark Ages". It wasn't until a few years after graduation that I started exploring photography again and I really didn't become "an artist" until a few years ago where I decided to submit my work to shows and began to get accepted into these shows.

What kind of an artist do you ultimately see yourself?

That is a really great question! I love photography and I think I will always be a landscape photographer because I love exploring and I believe that nature is beautiful and worth exploring. That being said, I do think I will start exploring abstract photography and may eventually dabble in painting one day.

What are you hoping to communicate to the viewer through your work?

I hope my work inspires people to explore. I specifically used the word "explore" because I feel that it is easy to travel to a new location and still not truly "explore" said location. Exploring opens up new avenues of thought and stimulates creativity and I think everyone should explore as much as they can while they are able to.

Can you explain the process of creating your work?

Being a landscape photographer, my process tends to be "shoot and process". After a few years of trial and error, I know which times of the day I prefer shooting in, so it is easier to plan my vantage points accordingly. Because of this, I tend to explore my locations beforehand and return to places I find interesting. After "shooting", I usually use Lightroom or Photoshop to enhance my photography and finish the piece.

What is your favourite part of the creative process?

I think my favourite part of the creative process is exploring new places and finding new subjects to shoot. Even if I don't find something interesting to "shoot", it's always fun exploring and seeing somewhere new or re-discovering a location.

Can you give us an insight into current projects and inspiration, or what we can look forward to from you in the near future?

Currently, I haven't been able to travel as much due to COVID-19, so I don't have as many landscape projects planned. I have a few post-pandemic locations in mind, but you will have to stay tuned to see what I come up with next! Outside of landscape photography, I have started experimenting more with abstract photography. I have a few ideas for project revolving around snow and textures specifically, so I'm looking forward to fleshing that out and experimenting come winter time.

Website https://www.natecphotography.com/

Instagram http://instagram.com/natec.photos