Biography
Virtually overlooked by the public, American David Waldman (born 1963) has created a vast body of photographic work whose visual universe originates from his immediate surroundings: the Northeastern United States. Waldman does not compose his images; instead, he finds objects and structures in everyday life and captures what has previously gone unnoticed with his camera. Primarily through macro photography or unusual cropping, he uncovers the inherent beauty of things – be it flowers, boats, buoys, street lamps, tools, neon sign, crops, wind turbines, or automobiles. In this way, he always seems to touch the essence of what he depicts.
The design-related details or even the written elements, such as graphic ciphers, appear and frequently cause an element of alienation. Weathered surface structures form a particular emphasis here, as Waldman generally focuses less on the sterile aesthetics of newness than on the ubiquity of decay and transience. In this manner, he incessantly reflects on the ontological nature of the motifs and interprets traces of apparent destruction as inherent to the image’s meaning.
The extensive oeuvre of David Waldman was previously known to only a small group of people and now – for the first time – is experiencing appropriate acknowledgment.
Curriculum Vitae
1963 | born in Washington, D.C., United States of America |
1963–1967 | lived in Taiwan |
1973–1977 | lived in England |
1985 | Bachelor of Science Degree in Graphic Arts, University of Maryland |
David Waldman lives and works in Silver Springs, MD |
Photography
“First ‘photo safari’ was a trip to London in 1982, using a 110 camera with FLASH CUBES. Managed to annoy some respected musicians during a performance at the Institute For Contemporary Arts. R.I.P., Derek Bailey. SURPRISE: British Rail was on strike.
Obtained Pentax SLR system 1983 (stolen), then Nikon System (stolen), and another Nikon system (auctioned). Preferred Kodachrome. Studied darkroom technique at Art Barn, Laurel, MD. I can still smell the faint aroma of RapidFix.
Only “real” paying gig was portraiture for National Institutes Of Health. Portraiture is my weak point.
Went totally digital in 2004, and don’t miss film. My current rig is Olympus.
Established Flickr page in November 2006, and have uploaded an average of 7 images every day since.
My other obsessions are synthesizers and sushi.
You’re welcome.”
David Waldman
“I see my camera as both a scalpel and a net, and the sun as my paint box. The mundane fascinates me, since it’s overlooked by the sane folk. My artistic duty is to reveal the splendor of rust, chipped paint, an abandoned farm tractor, or a defiant assassin bug. As for composition, what to omit is equally important as what to include. For what it’s worth, I would rather leave home without my pants than without my camera.” (David Waldman)