Hawkins Publishes Photo Book
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
WINONA LAKE - Square in shape, 13- by 13-inches, "The Ancient Shape of Man" offers 85 black and white large-format photographs by John Eric Hawkins and poetry by IPFW professor Shari Messenger and student Nate Benyousky.
There's a sensuousness to the book, from the intimate portraits of nature to the free- form poetry to the paper making up the pages.
Hawkins travels coast-to-coast in search of images. He captures everything from closeups of crystalline ice forms to seemingly endless vistas.
"I've been working on the idea of a book for a long time," Hawkins said of the comprehensive work, with photographs taken from 1986 to 2002. It is financially backed by the Village at Winona. "I'm thankful for the opportunity."
Hawkins' masterful use of 8- by 10-inch or 11- by 14-inch negatives, enhanced by his flawless printing skills, has details and values leaping to life. Titles, found in the back of the book identified by page number, are simple: "Antelope Canyon 2001," "Anthills 2001," "Ice Form 1995" and "Last Light 1999."
In one offering a winter-bare tree stands against a lush evergreen. In another a full moon is cradled between two canyon walls. A field of cracked stone leads to a faraway mountain range.
The pictures bring the fantastic expanses and features of many Western states to life. But the Midwest hasn't been slighted.
"About 20 percent of the photographs were taken in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio," he said.
In addition to landscapes and natural formations, Hawkins added a sprinkling of figure studies posing in a Bloomington limestone quarry.
In one, the sun casts a fat shadow from a slender woman against blocks of limestone while another shows a human skull cradled in flesh-and-blood arms.
"The figures are confident," Hawkins said, "showing strong women and strong shapes."
The collaboration between Hawkins, Messenger and Benyousky began when Messenger left notes on Hawkins' prints during a display at the Blue Lion Coffeehouse in the Village.
Messenger said only one poem was inspired by a Hawkins photograph.
"You have to write for yourself," she said.
The titles of the photographs as well as who wrote which poem also are given on one of the final pages of the book.
"I hadn't thought about including writing in the book. Shari's mindset just fit, the poems just went with the pictures," Hawkins said.
Messenger brought in examples of Benyousky's work and the paring of picture and words began.
The wind can almost be heard through the photographs and the poetry can almost be seen.
Printing quality was of paramount importance to Hawkins, who knew the endeavor would not be inexpensive.
He privately approached half a dozen people to invest in the book.
"Then one day Brent [Wilcoxson of the Village of Winona] and I were talking and he reminded me of a conversation we'd had months before. He, well, the Village, would put the money up for the book. That was the end of October," the photographer said.
In the next three months an "editing panel" was formed to provide the authors with feedback, and several trips were made to the Gardner Lithograph facility in Buena Park, Calif. Gardner reproduces the work of Ansel Adams, too, the "father" of large format landscape photography.
The book was bound by Roswell Bookbinding, in Phoenix, Ariz.
Hawkins is very pleased with the final product, a sumptuous addition to any library.
This summer he expects to be away from his exhibiting space and office at the Park Avenue Gallery, 902 Park Ave., promoting the book. It sells for $70 per copy. [[In-content Ad]]
WINONA LAKE - Square in shape, 13- by 13-inches, "The Ancient Shape of Man" offers 85 black and white large-format photographs by John Eric Hawkins and poetry by IPFW professor Shari Messenger and student Nate Benyousky.
There's a sensuousness to the book, from the intimate portraits of nature to the free- form poetry to the paper making up the pages.
Hawkins travels coast-to-coast in search of images. He captures everything from closeups of crystalline ice forms to seemingly endless vistas.
"I've been working on the idea of a book for a long time," Hawkins said of the comprehensive work, with photographs taken from 1986 to 2002. It is financially backed by the Village at Winona. "I'm thankful for the opportunity."
Hawkins' masterful use of 8- by 10-inch or 11- by 14-inch negatives, enhanced by his flawless printing skills, has details and values leaping to life. Titles, found in the back of the book identified by page number, are simple: "Antelope Canyon 2001," "Anthills 2001," "Ice Form 1995" and "Last Light 1999."
In one offering a winter-bare tree stands against a lush evergreen. In another a full moon is cradled between two canyon walls. A field of cracked stone leads to a faraway mountain range.
The pictures bring the fantastic expanses and features of many Western states to life. But the Midwest hasn't been slighted.
"About 20 percent of the photographs were taken in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio," he said.
In addition to landscapes and natural formations, Hawkins added a sprinkling of figure studies posing in a Bloomington limestone quarry.
In one, the sun casts a fat shadow from a slender woman against blocks of limestone while another shows a human skull cradled in flesh-and-blood arms.
"The figures are confident," Hawkins said, "showing strong women and strong shapes."
The collaboration between Hawkins, Messenger and Benyousky began when Messenger left notes on Hawkins' prints during a display at the Blue Lion Coffeehouse in the Village.
Messenger said only one poem was inspired by a Hawkins photograph.
"You have to write for yourself," she said.
The titles of the photographs as well as who wrote which poem also are given on one of the final pages of the book.
"I hadn't thought about including writing in the book. Shari's mindset just fit, the poems just went with the pictures," Hawkins said.
Messenger brought in examples of Benyousky's work and the paring of picture and words began.
The wind can almost be heard through the photographs and the poetry can almost be seen.
Printing quality was of paramount importance to Hawkins, who knew the endeavor would not be inexpensive.
He privately approached half a dozen people to invest in the book.
"Then one day Brent [Wilcoxson of the Village of Winona] and I were talking and he reminded me of a conversation we'd had months before. He, well, the Village, would put the money up for the book. That was the end of October," the photographer said.
In the next three months an "editing panel" was formed to provide the authors with feedback, and several trips were made to the Gardner Lithograph facility in Buena Park, Calif. Gardner reproduces the work of Ansel Adams, too, the "father" of large format landscape photography.
The book was bound by Roswell Bookbinding, in Phoenix, Ariz.
Hawkins is very pleased with the final product, a sumptuous addition to any library.
This summer he expects to be away from his exhibiting space and office at the Park Avenue Gallery, 902 Park Ave., promoting the book. It sells for $70 per copy. [[In-content Ad]]