Introducing Clinton Dean Bowman

http://www.clintondean.net/

I grew up in a small suburb of Oklahoma City. I wasn’t exposed to much art as a child, out side of film and photography. My mother used to take me with her to develop her film and print her photographs. At the time, I didn’t find it quite glamorous. The one thing I did enjoy was telling her which or imagery she should choose to print. She almost always printed my preference.

When I was six, I got my first camera. It was a novelty point and shoot, complete with Ninja Turtles in the viewfinder and on the prints. They weren’t my best photographs, but they were honest.

It wasn’t until I was a sophomore in college that I decided I wanted to pursue photography. I am fascinated with art and imagery, and the obvious creative outlet. Since graduating with my BFA in photography from Oklahoma City University, I have worked on array of different projects. I have shot fashion, jewelry, musicians, weddings and sports. Though I do love being a working photographer and lending my creative insight toward the development of projects, at the end of the day photography is my personal tool for expression.

In addition to photography, I also work with creating installations. This past year, I had an installation displayed in the Smithsonian, located in Washington D.C. Currently, I have photographs on display at the U.S. Volkswagen headquarters in  Herdon, Virginia and in an Idaho gallery,  and recently had one of photos featured in the American Apparel website.

1. Tell us how you found your way into photography.

I was first around photography at a young age. I was raised by a single mother, so I was often involved in any activity that  she did. When I was around six she started taking photography and darkroom lessons. I tagged along, and was given a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles camera when I was seven years old.

While in college, I decided to switch my major to pursue a fine art photography degree.

2. How do you classify yourself as a photographer?

Well, I would have to say I am a fine art photographer. I have done commercial work, and while I enjoy it, I find that work the best when I am shooting my own vision.

3. Describe to us a typical week in your life.

I have recently moved to D.C., so life has been rather hectic. I am working M – F for the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts and its affiliate program, VSA. So my life has been pretty work-heavy

Though I have gone out to shoot every weekend that I have been here in D.C.

4. What is  your favorite subject matter?

I don’t know that I have a specific subject matter that I like, I am drawn to post-industrial or post-commercial buildings to shoot in. I honestly just love being conceptual.

5. How do you approach a photo shoot?

It is different with every person that I shoot. It depends on their aesthetic.

6. Can you share with us a memorable experience from your career? A special moment, or favorite shoot?

Having my work exhibited in the Smithsonian was an incredible honor.

7. Do you think being from (or working in) Oklahoma has influenced your artistic vision? If so, how?

Absolutely. And being out of Oklahoma now it is really apparent. The wide open spaces and unarticulated landscapes just fed my creativity. There is also a wonderful little base of artists in the Oklahoma City area that made it great to be creative.

8. How have you benefited from being part of a creative community (workplace, classroom, associations, etc.)

I made a lot of wonderful connections in the art community in Oklahoma City. OVAC and IAO are super organizations that really work to create opportunities for artists. OVAC gave me my first start with showing art.

9. What is your vision of the future of the industry?

I think the industry is ever evolving. The inner-connectivity of blogs, flickr, photobucket and facebook seem to streamline photography. There is a double edged sword to it, because as we start to further embrace the “instant-gratification” world we move further from there being extremely remarkable and breathtaking images. It is both romantic and sad at the same time.

10. What is the vision of your future?

I wish I could tell you. I am going to continue to work in the arts. I see my work continuing to branch further out from photography, but not totally away from.

11. Can you lend some advice to young photographers?

Well, be true to who you are. You photographic voice is your visual representation. So learn who YOU are, and try to move closer to perfection.

That’s not say that you shouldn’t venture out…. Seek. Seek yourself out.