In 2013, photographer Curran Hatleberg left New York for a teaching position in Eureka, California, where he found a confounding and beautiful landscape that inspired a new body of work. He spent months exploring the rugged Northern California coast, meeting locals and documenting their lives.
Hatleberg describes the region as a far-flung edge of the world, where many people were on the run from their pasts. He lived in an old hilltop house with views of the Pacific and redwoods, feeling as though he could disappear unnoticed. His photographs, collected in the book Lost Coast, range from fleeting encounters to months-long relationships built on trust and mutual curiosity.
One image, which he calls his best, captures a dusty alley lined with daisies, a few redheads, puppies, and a woman holding a gas can, all bathed in blinding sun. Hatleberg had visited the spot many times without success, but on this afternoon everything came together. 'That's the miracle – when everything comes together and you're there to catch it,' he says.
Hatleberg's favourite photographs are open-ended, inviting viewers to participate in creating narrative and meaning. He believes the camera can elevate everyday chaos into coherence and harmony, making the mundane feel transcendent. His top tip for aspiring photographers: 'Forget about inspiration, dedication is what sustains an artistic practice.'
