Visitors to The Chatham Studio Tour the first two weekends in December will have a special treat. Photographer Craig Greiner will hang his work alongside that of his wife, oil painter Amanda Greiner, in their joint studio in Bynum, NC.
“I have had a passion for photography for over 15 years”, Craig says. He relocated to North Carolina after graduating with a degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh. While pursuing his career in biotechnology, he kept that passion alive, refined his skill of digital printing, and developed his own photographic style.
In 2015 Greiner became more serious with his photography, drawing inspiration from the world around him. “Let a pair of tattered shoes hanging from a telephone wire take you back to a childhood summer and a moment of celebration – or maybe rebellion” Craig explains of his work hanging in his studio. “Imagine yourself in a far away land as you get lost in the eyes of a wild animal stalking you as if it will leap from the photo before you. Or count the rays of sun as the streak through the morning mist and feel the warmth on your face. Maybe these images will help you reminisce, or maybe they make you wonder”
While he has concentrated on nature and conservation photography for many years, Craig has just embarked in a new direction. Craig explains, “I have always had a passion for nature and conservation photography, but today finds myself equally drawn towards documentary photography and capturing the mood of the social collective”. Infusing his own style and perspective, he strives to interpret the emotion in each moment as his shutter comes to a close. “If my work can make you stop, think, feel – if you connect, then I have succeeded”, comments Greiner.
His most recent project embarks on an exploration of social issues in the world today. He is working on studio interpretations to tell the story behind current movements such as #MeToo, #TimesUp, #WaterIsLife, #BlackLivesMatter and several more. After a collaborating project with his wife Amanda following the Women’s March, Craig noted ”I have become inspired by the stories of the people that have crossed my path”.
Greiner does very little post processing of his images. Much of his work is in black and white, focusing on balancing light, composition and character to tell a story. “Photography as art is about the whole creative process, not just capturing the image, and while I use modern technology I want to celebrate the heritage of conventional photography,” he stresses. His prints are produced in his home studio and are presented on signature archival fiber papers.
Craig is welcoming the opportunity to share his work and wants fine art photography to be obtainable. His prices range from $35 for 12×18 prints to over $300 for larger pieces. While this is his first year on the Chatham Studio Tour, he has shown his work at local festivals and has just been juried into three international shows in Barcelona , Berlin and Belgrade. His work can be found at the Greiner Studio website (https://www.greinerstudio.com/).
“Once in a while an image comes across that draws you in, forces you to contemplate, and invites you to feel the moment; to question where it came from, what happened next, or what it all means to you, personally. In that moment, the “art of photography” lives strong,” Greiner exclaims. Visitors to the Greiner Studio during the Chatham Studio Tour will surely have such special experiences.
