James Carey
Artist Richard Prillaman.
For our August 2017 issue, we sent one of our most adventurous contributors, Christopher Staudinger, to take part in the Memphis College of Art's yearly trip to Horn Island, off the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Photographer James Carey, who made his first voyage to the island in 2007, provided beautiful documentation of the trip and his fellow artists, including master metalworker Richard Prillaman, pictured shaping a copper bowl in the sand on this month's cover. Read more about Carey's work and his particular experiences on Horn Island below:
How did you get into photography?
I started getting serious about photography in high school after taking a couple of classes. It was just before digital photo became relevant so I learned in a darkroom and loved seeing my images develop in the chemicals. Since then I have spent a lot of time exploring different ways to capture and present photos. Traveling has been a passion for a long time; I love getting to know places with a camera in hand. My style can be a bit eclectic, I love using photography to explore new subjects and come up with interesting ways of presenting them.
What are some memorable experiences you've had on Horn Island?
My first time out on the island was in 2007 for the twenty-third year of the trip. It was my junior year of college, and a friend who went the previous year told me about his experience which got me interested. I love nature and camping so it was an easy decision to go the first time. In my first year I experienced beautiful weather and heavy thunderstorms, a variety of wildlife, and gorgeous sunsets every night. I got to be part of the rescue of an alligator that had its mouth caught in a trap, and in the same night saw a large bull shark reeled in on a fishing line. Every day was spent waking with the sun, exploring the landscape, and sharing a bonding experience with a group of artists in nature. Each year has been memorable in its own way.
[Read this: Brushing Shoulders with Walter Anderson: Primitive camping on Horn Island still kindles artistic spirits.]
Were you familiar with the work of Walter Anderson prior to these excursions? Have you felt influenced by his works since?
I wasn’t familiar with Walter's work, but everyone who goes on the trip visits his museum before making it out to the island. Also, throughout the week passages are read from his journals before meal time and a book is kept at main camp of his work to serve as inspiration. I did have the pleasure of meeting Walter’s son at the museum—he offered some nice insight into Walter's relationship with the island. I have an appreciation for Walter’s compositions and his intimate connection with the island.
What are your favorite photographic subjects on the island? Is there a certain message you're trying to get across with your works?
The subjects I photograph the most on the island are the trees. My first time on the island wasn’t long after Hurricane Katrina, which drastically affected the landscape by stripping plant life and reshaping the dunes. As a result, all of my years returning to the island have tracked its growth and recovery. The trees that survived and the ones that didn’t give character to the landscape. I typically scout out places I want to photograph and get up early in the morning before the sun to hike out and shoot while the light is continually shifting in color and tone.
Where can people find more of your artwork to view?
My personal website is down right now but I have work up at eighteenpercentgrey.tumblr.com and my instagram @teh_mountain_man
What keeps you going back to Horn Island?
For me the best vacation is one spent doing something very different from my day-to-day life. Spending several days camping on an island without technology is a great way to do that. It becomes easy to forget about the usual stresses and just focus on this beautiful place. The island changes every year as well as the group of people so the experience is always different. The island for me has also been an ongoing subject that I can approach differently each year and find new ways to see it. I always return home from the island feeling refreshed and motivated.
