Artist Statement
I’ve driven hundreds of miles for one or two photographs that may or may not make the cut. I’ve also driven hundreds of miles and never got my camera out. For me, to want to photograph a composition it has to grab me in a sensory way that inspires me so much I have to photograph it.
I’m beginning to see a few themes emerge from the my recent work. Things Left Behind is a life long project that’s complex, sometimes fun and quirky. The Desert series is a series of landscape images in and around the Maricopa County area. This Desert series explores the stark compositions of light and shadow. The most recent series is the Forest. These images are from the Coconino and Kaibab National Forest. The Forest is a work in progress but when looked at closely these beautiful scenes begin to reveal a resilience and struggle for survival.
Bio
I’m a Phoenician since 1983, but hail from New York. At the age of 18, I left New York to further my independence and education in Arizona. I attended Phoenix Community College and Northern Arizona University were I participated in Track and Field and studied photography and journalism.
I started my photography career in 1989 as a photojournalist with the Scottsdale Progress / East Valley Tribune Newspaper. I was a staff photographer and finally the photo editor until 2009. In March of 2009, I launched Brad Armstrong Photography where I help companies communicating their corporate mission through customized photography.
I served as an adjunct professor and was The Howard Buffett Visiting Professor of Photojournalism at Arizona State’s Walter Cronkite School of Mass Communications and Journalism.
I currently serve on the InFocus Board of Directors. InFocus is the support organization for the John and Dorris Norton Gallery, Center for Creative Photography and the Phoenix Art Museum.
Throughout my career I have alway had large format photography in my life to sooth my soul through personal work. All of the images are analog 8 X 10 film.
My fine art work is represented by the Tilt Gallery.