Curran Hatleberg's Vision: Documenting America's Fringes Through Photography
Guided by raw instinct and intuition, acclaimed photographer Curran Hatleberg traverses the United States, seeking out images that weave their own compelling short stories. His latest works, Blood Green and Lost Coast, available from TBW Books, delve into the primal interplay between humanity and the natural world, offering a unique perspective on contemporary American life.
The Genesis of Blood Green: An Alternative Narrative
Hatleberg describes Blood Green as a project born from the remnants of his earlier book, River's Dream. "Finishing up my book River's Dream a few years ago, I just couldn't shake the thought that there was something I had left behind – that there was something I left unsaid," he explains. This collection comprises photographs that felt distinct, focusing less on domestic gatherings and more on the raw, untamed connection between people and their environment. It represents, in his words, "the road not taken – an alternative vision of that time in my life."
Encounters in the Swamp: A Primal Connection
One striking image from Blood Green features a man kneeling in a stream bed with his catch, embodying a deep, almost perilous love for the swamp. Hatleberg recounts meeting this individual, who spoke of the allure of the dark thickets and wandering channels, despite the dangers of water moccasins and bull alligators. "The deeper he went, the less he saw people and the more he encountered... enormous prehistoric reptiles and amphibians of all kinds," Hatleberg notes, highlighting the theme of immersion in nature's wildness.
Youthful Recklessness and Carefree Moments
The series also captures scenes of youthful abandon, such as teenagers diving 40 feet off a bridge into a river. Hatleberg reflects on this as a symbol of "carefree, reckless leisure" and the infinite possibilities of youth. Another image shows young adults relaxing with a smoking gun and cigarettes near a creek, a tableau that speaks to moments of rebellion and relaxation in natural settings.
Lost Coast: Exploring Dislocation and Community
In his debut monograph, Lost Coast, Hatleberg presents an episodic narrative centred on Eureka, California. The title references both the remote coastal region and a deeper sense of disappearance – of lives lived on the margins. "I had this persistent feeling living there that I could just disappear and no one would know," he shares, noting how many subjects vanished without warning, leaving behind only photographic traces.
The Heart of the Work: Family and Connection
At its core, Hatleberg's photography is about family and community. "So many times in my life I've been lost or adrift, searching for connection and love – the way we all do – and it is not at all a stretch to say the people I spend time with and photograph are, and have been, family to me," he asserts. He has lived, eaten, and worked with his subjects, creating images that are "traces of something deeper and more important."
A Layered Portrait of America
Each photograph in these collections functions as a short story, rich with detail and ambiguity. They offer a layered portrait of places shaped by natural grandeur and economic erosion, from a family finding shade on a hot lake day to a group sitting in a lumber yard at sunset. Hatleberg's work captures the essence of American fringes, where beauty and dislocation coexist, inviting viewers to explore the untold narratives of everyday life.
