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What was the genesis of this book?

My publisher approached me with an idea to create a piece that would celebrate New Mexico on its 100 years of statehood. But really, this book is a natural progression of my work. It presents a selection of my photographs, made over the nearly three decades that I have lived and worked in New Mexico. Some of the images are from my archives while others are newer, based on my desire to have a more complete geographical coverage in order to best represent the varied landscape of the state.

How did you come to love the American West?

I grew up in Canada and came to US in 1970. A few years later, while attending the University of Michigan, I attended a photography workshop in California. The instructor suggested I drive back home through the Southwest. I immediately fell in love with the Santa Fe light. To this day I cannot find the words to describe the quality of light here. It has so deeply captured me and made me want to reveal its nuances in my photographs more and more. I ended up completing the thesis portion of my graduate work for RIT in Santa Fe and have been here ever since.

How do you decide whether to shoot film or digital?

I’ve been making pictures for over 40 years. One tool is not necessarily better than the other to make images. They are just tools. While I like the look of film for many of the photographs I make, a digital camera allows me to create images in certain situations that I might not otherwise be able to.

Who are you influenced by?

I’m influenced by many artists. I like the old masters—Edward Weston Ansel Adams, Wynn Bullock, Morley Baer, Brett Weston— they really knew how to make photographs. I love the current work of William Clift, Richard Misrach, and Robert Glenn Ketchum. And some of the work my students produce can be downright amazing. Perhaps my favorite photographer is Paul Caponigro who I briefly worked for here in Santa Fe. I’m drawn to the subtlety and the contemplative nature of his photographs. Above all I believe that in order to be a good photographer one has to truly love images and love what one is photographing.

What are you working on now?

I’m photographing the White Sands National Monument. It is 275 sq. miles of white sand dunes in southern New Mexico. It is very different topography than northern New Mexico. I’m thinking more about abstraction and the dunes provide an opportunity to explore that. It will be the subject of my next book.

What do you enjoy about being an instructor?

When you teach you learn. I frequently learn things from students and working with them sometimes helps me clarify my own ideas about image making. And you have an opportunity to give back. As a photographer I often work alone so teaching, because I have the privilege of working with others, becomes counterpoint to my own work. It brings balance to my life and my work. You give and receive feedback and can react. I teach students to be honest in their work. Authenticity is important too; it makes you a better, happier photographer.

Why is it important to publish your work?

Publishing my work is a very integral part of my creative process. Much in the same way that recorded music (in the past) was presented as a group of songs on a record album, publishing provides me a way to present a body of work, in a controlled way to a larger audience, that may never see the original prints. This provides an opportunity for the photographs to create more connections.

The book is available at fine book stores and Amazon.com
To view the Craig’s work check out www.craigvarjabedian.com