From New York Struggle to California Revelation
After years of struggling to find his photographic voice in vibrant but overwhelming New York, Curran Hatleberg experienced a career-defining breakthrough when he relocated to Northern California in 2013. The Washington DC-born photographer seized an unexpected teaching opportunity in Eureka that would fundamentally transform his artistic practice and produce one of his most significant bodies of work.
Discovering Northern California's Mythic Landscape
Hatleberg found himself captivated by what he describes as "a confounding and beautiful place" that immediately inspired new creative directions. Living in an old hilltop house with furnished rooms overlooking the Pacific Ocean and redwood forests, the photographer immersed himself in the region's unique atmosphere. Northern California felt like "the far-flung edge of the world" - a landscape where people could disappear without notice, reflecting the transient nature of many residents he encountered.
During his extended stay, Hatleberg taught two days weekly at the local community college while dedicating the remainder of his time to exploration and photography. This period functioned almost like an artistic residency, allowing him to develop deep connections with both place and people. Many individuals he met in Humboldt County were, in his observation, "on the run, either from their own lives, or from a country they thought had let them down."
The Art of Connection and Chance Encounters
Hatleberg's approach to photography involves direct engagement with his subjects. "If I'm interested in someone, I walk right up to them with my camera and tell them what my work is about," he explains. This straightforward method either opens floodgates of connection or shuts down possibilities immediately, relying on mutual trust and curiosity to create meaningful images.
The relationships documented in his book Lost Coast ranged from brief five-minute encounters to connections spanning months. Hatleberg emphasises the collaborative nature of his work, hoping that subjects gain as much from the interaction as he does. This shared vulnerability and trust form the foundation of what makes his photography compelling.
The Miracle of Perfect Timing
One particular image exemplifies Hatleberg's philosophy of patience meeting opportunity. After repeatedly visiting a location without finding the right photographic moment, he turned a corner one afternoon to discover "a dusty alley lined with daisies, a few redheads, a handful of puppies, and a woman with a gas can, the whole scene lit up by blinding sun."
This eureka moment in Eureka represents what Hatleberg describes as the miracle of photography - when all elements converge perfectly and the photographer is present to capture the transient harmony. These rare instances disappear as quickly as they materialise, requiring both intuition and readiness.
Hatleberg's favourite photographs, including this seminal image, tend to be open-ended, inviting viewers to participate in creating narrative and meaning. The camera, in his practice, possesses the remarkable ability to transform everyday chaos into coherent harmony, making even mundane moments feel transcendent.
The photographer's dedication to his craft has yielded significant recognition, including exhibition at the Whitney Biennial, which he considers a career high point. His advice to aspiring artists emphasises persistence over inspiration: "Forget about inspiration, dedication is what sustains an artistic practice."
A new edition of Lost Coast, along with Hatleberg's recent publication Blood Green, are now available through TBW Books, offering broader audiences access to his distinctive visual exploration of America's forgotten corners and their inhabitants.
