Interview with Brian Kosoff
The Interview
Background Information
Biographical information (When were you born, where you were born, anything else you find important): I was born in 1957 in NYC.
Name: Brian Kosoff
Working location: I work anywhere there is landscape that I find interesting. Most often the American West and South West as well as foreign countries such as New Zealand, Norway, Iceland and others. My studio is in the NY area.
Age: I’m currently 51 years old.
Any shows you have been in and Museums that your work is displayed in:
Questions & Answers
What sort of techniques do you use?
Regarding techniques, there aren’t any specific techniques per se, but there are some I use on occasion. There’s an article on one of my printing techniques in Shutterbug magazine. Here’s the link; http://shutterbug.com/techniques/pro_techniques/0908personal/
What are your influences?
One thing that has influenced my work was having spent 27 years as an advertising and editorial photographer, most often working in still life. The unglamorous bread and butter of that type of work is silhouette product photos, basically a single object, or very minimal objects, centered on a white or gradating background. A large portion of my landscape is a minimal centered subject with a light background behind it so I think the influence is obvious.
Are there any stylistic similarities in your work?
In regards to stylistic similarities, I can say that I have been influenced by many photographers, from Ansel Adams and Irving Penn, to Michael Kenna. Those not intimately familiar with Kenna’s work and mine might think my work is very influenced by Kenna, as it is minimal B&W, but in reality it looks very much like the type of work I did when I was a teen ager, long before Kenna’s work was published.
What format do you use (large, med, small, film, digital…)?
I work most often using 120 roll film, which would be considered medium format, but as I use a 6×12cm framing of that film, it is closer in size and quality to 4×5″ large format. I also most often use a view camera, either a Sinar F2 or a Linhof Technika.
Why do you create the work that you do?
I create my work partly because it is my profession, my occupation, but if making a living were not a factor I would still do what I do because it’s a major part of who I am and I love the process of creating these images, and the satisfaction once one has.
Sample
First Light Dune
© 2000, Brian Kosoff, All Rights Reserved
For more of Brian Kosoff visit the link posted earlier, or click here.
