Category: Unit 10 Research

Marty Knapp first began his journey as a self-employed photographer in 1988 when he quit his day job to pursue his passion for photography. At first he developed film as well as custom prints for clients in his darkroom and doing smaller photoshoots such as weddings, portraits and made slides for artists. He used his free time to experiment and explore his creativity.

In 1990 his work began to take off, meaning by 2000 he opened “Marty Knapp Photo Gallery” with his wife. There they showcased his pieces and also offered classes to photographers who wish to be coached in the art of black and white photography.

Knapp only started using digitally captured images during 2010 where he developed some prints from scanned negatives. The following year he created his first silver gelatine prints.

Currently he stated he uses a camera which was converted to record infrared light in order for him to capture a series of “dream-like” images from light that is beyond the range of the human eye.

He has also published a series of books:
– West Marin Moons
– Starry Night at Point Reyes
– Point Reyes, 20 years

It took me a while to come across his website, but once I found it I was hooked. The use of the infrared camera truly helps him create works of art also, as the images are in black and white it only seems to add to the beauty of it.

Personally, I believe that Marty Knapp has an incredible eye when it comes to photography and what helps him is his way with finding the correct lighting. For example, Inverness Ridge [above] he truly captures the essence of the landscape.

Kari Greer is a photographer who specialises in wildland fire and editorial photojournalism. Greer works alongside the National Interagency Fire Centre to help bring awareness of the damage that forest fires cause.

She first began to explore this interest during her college years where she worked on a Forest Service fire crew in Washington.

Some of Greer’s work has made an appearance in numerous articles and other publications such as:
– Outside Magazine
– National Geographic Adventure
– Wildland Firefighter
– The New York Times

The Prichard Art Gallery is the first thorough exhibition that presents Kari Greer’s pieces.

In 2015 alone there was a total of 10.1 million acres burned in the US – the length and size of forest fires are prolonging the project. The goal is to bring more awareness to the issues at hand as well as helping people understand it, Greer’s photographs need no words to describe the images as they tell their own stories.

I knew I wanted to do a research page on forest fires, as I personally feel as though it is a topic we are all very aware and yet so oblivious to at the same time. Admittedly, there are moments where things such as forest fires are out of our control but I believe that a lot of people have the mindset of “out of sight, out of mind” that is, until it is in an area close to them and their home.

There are several natural causes that can lead to forest fires such as:
– Dry climate
– Lighting
– Volcanic eruptions

However there are people who do something as small as not putting a cigarette out properly – simple, yet easy to forget, which can set some grass or bushes on fire which is all it takes due to how rapidly a forest fire will spread. It had been stated that the most common direct human causes of a forest fire are:
– Unlit cigarettes
– Arson
– Sparks from equipment