Presented by

Atanas

Bosakov

For

Photography

120, Online

Class at Napa

Valley College

John Pfahl

BORN February 17, 1939; New York, New York

Raised in Wanaque, New Jersey.

EDUCATION BFA. Syracuse University, School of Art,

1961

MA. Syracuse University, School of Communications, 1968

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

1968 – 85 School of Photographic Arts and Sciences,

Rochester Institute of

Technology. Resigned as full Professor to pursue

photographic

career.

1983-4 Visiting Professor, University of New Mexico,

Albuquerque.

1986 – Present Adjunct Professor, University of Buffalo,

Buffalo, NY.

Biography

John Pfahl is an American photographer mostly known for his Landscape work. His style is directly related to nature and the environment. Pfahl’s work is an unique combination of classical landscapes (reveling the beauty of the nature) and discreet remainder of the human intervention in nature. His unique style masterly provokes.

“I want to make photographs whose very ambiguity provokes thought, rather than cuts it off prematurely. I want to make pictures that work on a more mysterious level, that approach the truth by a more circuitous route.”

John Pfahl

John Pfahl’s Work and Style

John Pfahl’s work grabbed my attention because of the beauty of the environmental message that it carries. I find his photographs very influential. One of my favorite series of photographs are Power Places (1981-84), Missile /Glyphs (1984-85), and The Very Rich Hours of a Compost Pile (1992-93). Although the photographs differ in style, they are fascinating because of the passion and the concern for the harmony of culture and nature.

This landscape image

from the Power Places

series is a great example

of the photography style

of John Pfahl. The author

of the image doesn’t

emphasizes directly on

the power place. Instead,

he places the chimneys

using the rule of third to

achieve his message of

indirect alert. The result

is a provocative

combination of pure

nature and human

intervention. Great

choice of cloudy

condition and defuse,

soft light for the image.

Power Places

This photograph, named Fat Man

Atomic Bomb(that was the name of

the bomb detonated over Nagasaki),

is from the Missile/Glyphs series.

The image is absolutely outstanding

and it speaks in a such a deep way.

The photograph is designed on the

diptych technique. I really like how

John Pfahl masterly uses color, light,

and shadows to create this

composition. The image is very

urgent and loaded with tension, and

reminds us about the danger of the

nuclear weapons. The bomb placed

above the images of humans is a

great way to express the destructive

power . The motives of culture,

technology, and environment are

present in this masterpiece of

photography.

Missile /Glyphs,

The Watermelon Ruts is an

beautiful directorial, still

life image. Complementary

Color Contrast (green and

red) and unique

combination of texture is

what catches my attention. I

admire the idea of using

remains in a way that shows

some beauty. The layout of

the elements is very

dynamic. I get the idea of

transparency and hidden

meaning of ongoing

purpose. The decaying

organic matter will

eventually be completely

“dead”, but it will provide

nutrients for the soil. The

image conveys the purpose

of harmony and balance.

The Very Rich Hours of a Compost Pile (Watermelon Ruts)

John Pfahl’s photographs are very influential for not only photographers, but for environmental activists and political agendas as well. I learned from Mr. Pfahl’s work that photography is more than simply taking pictures. It’s a way of expression, it’s passion, it’s a tool for sending a message. I also learned that beauty appears in different forms. His indirect way of conveying a meaning is what I like the most about his photographs.

John Pfahl’s Influence

http://www.janetbordeninc.com/biographies/Pfahl.pdfhttp://

www.mocp.org/collections/permanent/pfahl_john.php ( The Museum of Contemporary Photography Website)

http://www.environmentalartblog.com/2009/04/john-pfahl-early-work.html (The Environmental Art Blog)

http://johnpfahl.com ( Mr. John Pfahl’s Website)Altered Landscapes, book by John Pfahl, June 1, 1981Picture Windows, book by John Pfahl, October 1, 1987

Annotated Bibliography