Today we’d like to introduce you to Craig Primas.
Craig, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My art form is landscape photography. Serious landscape photography for me started way back in 1977 when I bought my first 35mm SLR, a Nikkormat Ft2. I was an Air Force kid and I bought it at the Nellis Air Force Base BX in Las Vegas. I was an avid hunter, fishemen and outdoorman, and the sights I saw compelled me to start taking pictures. I was in college then, studying to be an engineer. But when I was not in school I was in the wilds of the southwest, Utah, Nevada, Arizona taking pistures and enjyoing the beauty of the everywhere. I graduated college in 1980 and launched a successful career as a civil engineer, with a specialty in land development and master planning. I married Anne in 1979 (we had been together since our sophmore year in high school in 1973). and we raised two kids: Jason and Carrie. As a respite between working professionally as a civil engineer and raising a family, my passion for fine art photography grew. While still operating my own enginerring company, I turned my photography into a second profession in 1996, being hired by a hotel developer to provide photographic artwork for a large hotel in Scottsdale, Arizona. Once our kids were grown and out on their own, I decided to “semi-retire” from engineering, close our offices, and turned to fine art photography full time, which I continue with a passion today.
I first visted Southern Utah in 1971, when I and some friends passed through Duck Creek Village on our way to Bryce Canyon and then Zion National Parks. I fell in love. Visiting southern Utah back then became a obsession, whether fishing, hunting or hiking. Once I bought my first camera, it then always accompanied me, of course. In 1992 we bought our first cabin in Duck Creek Village and the area became a focus point for my art. While I travel internationally, as well as throughout the United States, Southen Utah is home to my art. My catalogue of images involving Cedar Mountain, the Markagunt Plateau and the Duck Creek area is extensive. Our minds make the perfect camera, recording memories. There is not an image in my portfolio that I cannot recall where I was, the weather conditions, the time of day, what I was thinking and what compelled me to take that picture in the first place.
Today, our kids are grown with kids of their own and Anne and I spend time traveling, drinking wine, and chasing the light. Life is good.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Nobody goes through life and a 52 year relationship (46 year of that married), unscathed. Like everybody else, I have had challenges, both personally and professionally. Like John Denver sang, “Life ain’t no easy freeway, just some gravel on the ground.” Nobody gets to the top of a mountain without facing the ups and downs. But, if I had to go back, I would not have changed a thing. All of it has what got me where I am today.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As a fine art photographic artist, over time I have worked with a variety of photographic film formats: 110, 35mm, 645, 4×5, 6×7, 617 panoramic, primarily in color. Once digital cameras evolved, I of course indulged; first with 35mm digital SLR’s and then with large format mirrorless cameras. Recently I started to shoot using a drone camera. I even use my phone, which has a tremendous camera. I have always felt that it is not the camera that captures a picture. It is the vision and craftsmanship of the photographer. Like any art, it is not the tool that creates the art, but the artist. My approach is to match the camera/lens that best suits the vision I have at the time, coupled with what I want my end product to be; be it just a social post, a large print, or even a billboard.
From a subject point of view, I try to capture iconic-style imagery of non-iconic places. There are tons of the same pictures from a specific point if view, of say, the Grand Canyon or Zion. I look for scenes and perspectives from where nobody has been, and make people ask: “Where is that, that is spectalular!”. Art is intended to evoke emotion, and that is my goal. Maybe spark a memory, but always to spark joy. I am most proud of that.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
From my childhood I have many great memories, of course. One of my favorites is spending time in Bull Shoals, Arkansas. My maternal grandparents had retired there in the early 1960’s, so our family spent alot of time there; fishing for trout in the White River, swimming in Bull Shoals Lake, and kicking around in the woods. I would say that is a favorite memory. And playing baseball as a youth, too.
Pricing:
- Art is subjective, and so is pricing. Unfortunately, most people do not want to spend alot of money on art. So, my pricing for prints is just enough to “support the habit”. Most of my work is custom order prints, and they are always negotiable.
- One can look at my website for general pricing. With that said, I work with the customer to fit there needs.
- As an engineer, I made a pretty good living. When asked “Why do you do photographhy now?, I retort that I always wanted to be a starving artist. So, in that respect, I am living the dream.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.craigprimas.net
- Instagram: https://Www.instagram.com/craigprimas
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/craig.primas.16/
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/craigprimas.net/
