Christopher James

Christopher James is an artist and photographer, specializing in painting and alternative process images. His work has been exhibited in numerous galleries all over the world. His work has been shown at the MOMA, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art among others. He has written a couple of books on the subject of alternative processing including The Book of Alternative Photographic Processes, which has received critical acclaim. He is currently University Professor, and Chair of Photography, at the Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University. He also works as a graphic designer.

"With digital imaging hosting the new “mushy democracy” of photographic expression; where the equipment finds the faces, exposes for neutral feeling, and then makes the perfect print, there is a (forgive the theater in the next word) hunger for the accident, the raw imperfect light and texture of life. Alternative process image making grows ever stronger in this environment..." (Christopher James, Visual Literacy: Revolutions, Arts, and Mirrors 1).

"In alternative process printmaking, the hand and the eye are equal partners in the art and crafting of the image. The print itself is a sign, a symbol, and a mark … perhaps even a metaphor for the process of making the print" (9).

I've been working with alternative processes throughout my project by using my Diana camera. I've been thinking about trying other processes as well, like making my own paper and transfers. Now I'm thinking about doing emulsion lifts and placing images on objects found in nature, like leaves or pieces of wood. I really like that this artist has a whole body of work devoted to plastic cameras. This artist works with a lot of different alternate processes, some of which I would be interested in trying with my own work.

http://christopherjames-studio.com/build/writing.html
(Book review is the last on the list)

http://www.eastmanhouse.org/index.php

http://christopherjames-studio.com/index.html