In this second installment of our four part series on Randy Craig, we explore Randy’s philosophy as a photographer. How does he view photography and what are his sources of inspiration? These are questions that we will consider and endeavor to answer as we let you know more about Randy Craig to whom we refer with fondness and a bit of envy as a photographer with an eye for beauty.

Randy Craig says that ‘Photography is my artistic outlet.’ We can relate to Randy’s statement. Artists become better attuned to the stirrings inside them through the opportunity for an outpouring that their art form provides. Art can thereby be both a creative and liberating experience. Through a chosen art form, an artist is able to reach new heights and in the process become truly free.

We can similarly relate to Randy’s remark that photography ‘provides balance and fulfillment in my life.’ Sometimes, it is hard to figure out when it all starts. We just seem to wake up one morning and realize that we have spent so many years on our art that it has become a big part of who we are. We then become certain that as far as we are concerned there is no other way to live. This appears to be Randy’s experience. Randy does not see himself as ever retiring from photography.

We could ask Randy to speculate on what he might do if he were a different kind of artist using another art form. Would the subjects of Randy’s art be the same? Would he present his subjects any differently? Randy seems certain that he would go about his art, choose subjects and depict them in exactly the same way. In this regard, Randy has said, ‘If I were a painter, or a sculptor, or an artist of any other medium, I have no doubt that I would create art very similar to the photos that I take. My sources of inspiration and reference would be the same.’

But Randy is wary of other art forms that might not allow him to spend as much time outdoors. The outdoors is where Randy feels most at home as a photographer and as an artist. It is there where he is most prolific. Randy is almost certain that he would not be able to produce as much art in another medium. Randy would do a lot of things the same way with different art forms. But then in Randy’s words,‘I would undoubtedly spend more time away from the outdoor world that I love and I certainly wouldn’t be able to create as many pieces of work.’

It is not hard for us to predict where Randy gets his inspiration. Randy lives for the beauty that he finds in nature and people. He is willing to search far and wide for this beauty. His passion is to discover and photograph beauty in fresh new material that not many others have seen before. The remaining two parts of this four part series on Randy examines more closely his take on beauty including the beauty of the human body.

From Randy Craig