One Page Artist Summary: Clarence John Laughlin

 

 

          Born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, in 1905, Clarence John Laughlin was an American photographer best known for his romantic photographs of the South. During his younger years, Laughlin aspired to be a writer but found a passion for photography once he reached the age of twenty five. It wasn’t until 1936 he finally took up photography as a full-time profession and gained experience working under corporations such as Vogue Studios, The U.S. Army Signal Corp. Photographic Unit, and The U.S. Engineer Corp. Laughlin utilized his early love for literature to aid him in the creative process of making his photographs. He was a firm believer that reading and writing were fundamental in maintaining a healthy imagination which would result in further artistic innovation. He felt it was the job of the photographer to push the boundaries of reality.

 

Laughlin was known for his surreal photography which sought to challenge the way people understood the world around them. By altering the contrast, lighting, composition, shape, and subject matter of his images, he was able to create a multitude of captivating, abstract imagery that displayed the world in a new perspective.

 

Although he took a variety of photos, Laughlin had a soft spot for architecture. As the South modernized over the years, he found himself trying to preserve many of the older buildings in the area by taking pictures of them. He was not too fond of the newer architecture and thought it to be boring in comparison to what the past had offered. The buildings of the future, in his eyes, lacked creativity and allure. As a result, he took upon himself to photograph the old architecture as a way to combat the ever changing society. In the end, Laughlin passed away in 1985 and is often considered by many to be one of the earliest pioneers of surreal photography in the South.

 

Powerpoint Presentation: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/17xz5vgAIQXPqmQB2Og6nloQSXxMAAq_A2Y_b9DhhY04/edit#slide=id.p