Patrick Warner: The States Project: Montana

Patrick Warner: The States Project: Montana by Alexis PikeJune 10, 2017

©Patrick Warner

Instagram is where I became familiar with Patrick Warner’s work. Initially looking at his feed, I assumed he was older and held an MFA degree in photography. His work had a maturity to it—his imagery was methodical, cohesive, calm, and he used only one hashtag… #montana. My perceptions are often off and I now know that Patrick is not an older man—he’s young. He is also self-taught—he doesn’t hold an MFA. I read in an interview with Patrick at one time he considered studying at Montana State University because he wanted to be a filmmaker. If he’d followed that route, I’m sure the photo faculty could have converted him to a photo major. Honestly though, he doesn’t need the degree. The image of the Cadillac in the field has over a thousand likes on Instagram. What he has is photographic passion—the desire and motivation to make images utilizing his love for analog photography, driving across Montana highways in search of the magic hour to piece together a cinematic narrative of place. His imagery demonstrates an awareness of the effects of the atmosphere using color film. He understands the definition of Big Sky and exploits the visual patterns created between the ground and sky seen in our landscapes. He recognizes space and knows when to leave it open or close it within the frame. I look forward to seeing where Patrick will transport me on his next Montana photographic journey.

Artist Bio- Patrick Warner is a photographer and GIS analyst born in Missoula, Montana and currently residing in Florence, Montana. He received his BA from Carroll College in Psychology and Political Science in addition to a GIS & Cartography Certificate from the University of Montana. His work primarily deals with his surroundings and the landscapes of Montana. He has been featured on booooooom, Juxtapoz, Velvet Eyes, the Adventure Handbook, and Fotographia amongst others. When he isn’t working or out photographing, he is reading a book, spending time with his friends and family or sleeping.

Up From the Plains

Up From the Plains explores the diverse geography of Montana and its relationship to the state’s culture. By size, the state is the 4^th biggest in the USA, as well as one of the most sparsely populated. It is connected by highways, big and small, stretching from the Great Plains to the Rocky Mountains. Agriculture, railroads, oil, wildfires , weather and especially the state’s highways all shape the Montana’s landscapes and, inversely, the landscapes also shape these qualities of our state.