Artist Statement

My photography practice explores our connection to the natural world through an imperfect and metaphorical lens. The work explores the idea that there is beauty in the ordinary or unconventional. I usually eschew the grand, impactful scenes; odd, quirky, or commonplace subjects are far more interesting. It is with these “small” subjects that I find metaphors and symbols of everyday life. A single wildflower surrounded by an expanse of dried brush reminds me of how I can sometimes feel isolated from mainstream society; a brackish pond emerging out of the fog can symbolize the rich wonders of living life that frequently go unnoticed due to the frenzy of living.

I enjoy converting images to monochrome in order to tease out a sense of clarity from messy, complex, chaotic scenes; nature, after all, is rarely clean and tidy. But even when using color, my photos often utilize muted or desaturated tones in order to convey a sense of stillness and reflection. In the field I work instinctually with the camera; I rarely pre-visualize my photos. Creating an impactful photograph out of an unremarkable view is extremely challenging, and it often requires much work in post-production in order to achieve my goals. I can spend anywhere from a few hours to weeks or even months working on a single image until it says what I feel.

All of my imagery originates digitally, but my ultimate goal is always the print. It is an integral part of my process. I create 8”x10” proofs on fine-art paper throughout the creative processing phase to judge the final impact. On-screen representation of an image is never enough. It often takes several round trips through the digital processing/printing process in order to achieve an image and print that satisfies my artistic vision.

I hope that my work successfully conveys the idea that the ordinary can be extraordinary; we only need to be still and aware to find beauty and wisdom all around us.

Biography

Warren Agee, born 1966 in Buffalo, NY, USA, is a fine art photographer whose practice explores his connection with the natural world. After attempting many different creative careers including drawing, architecture, jewelry-making and the fiber arts, Warren accidentally discovered photography in the mid 1990s while making color transparencies of his jewelry to submit to juried art fairs. He soon pointed his camera to everything growing in his yard and never looked back. He fully embraced digital technologies in the early 2000s. He works primarily in monochrome. “Unless it is the focal point of an image, I find color tends to distract from form and content. My photographer’s eye primarily sees structure, composition, and texture.” His work has been exhibited in various galleries including Middlebury, VT. and Minneapolis, MN, as well as receiving honorable mentions in the 2021 Monovisions Awards. He currently resides in Petaluma, California.

Curriculum Vitae

Warren Agee (b. 1966, Buffalo, NY)

Lives and works in Petaluma, CA

Exhibitions:

2023 Wild Roof Journal, Issue 18

2022 F-Stop Magazine, Open Theme June 2022

2022 Open 2022 Exhibition, The SE Center for Photography, SC

2021 The Curated Fridge: Autumn 2021, MA

2021 The Contemporary Landscape, The SE Center for Photography, SC

2021 Portfolios, AllAboutPhoto.com

2021 In Celebration of Trees, PhotoPlace Gallery, VT

2021 Mono-Kromatic, Praxis Gallery, MN

2021 The Quiet Landscape, PhotoPlace Gallery, VT

Awards:

2021 Monovisions Photography Awards, Landscapes, Series/Honorable Mention

2021 Monovisions Photography Awards, Nature and Wildlife, Series/Honorable Mention

2021 The Independent Photographer, Emerging Talent, Editor’s Choice

Bibliography:

2023 Dew To Dust: A Visual Meditation on Life in the Petaluma Wetland, self-published, First Edition October 2023

2021 Our Magnificent Planet 2021, December 2021, LensWork Publishing