New Work/Covers
Art Director: Strick&Williams Publisher: Catapult
Art Director: Patti Ratchford Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Art Director: Milan Bozic Publisher: Harper Collins Stylist: Wendy Schelah/Halley Resources
Faint Evidence
I recently returned from 5 weeks at The Rauchenberg Residency in Captiva, Fla. While there, I was struck by the abundance of natural beauty; not the expected colorful and verdant landscape in that part of South Florida, but the rich brown hues in the flora and fauna of the preserve in which we resided. Despite frequent rains and high humidity, which aids in the growth of lush vegetation, the weather of the island of Captiva is quite punishing. The high heat, often strong winds and the harsh relentless sun that seems to permeate the smallest of crevices, all work toward rapid aging of everything in it’s path.
It was this particular beauty that inspired the traditional still lifes for this project. I find poetry in the moments where youth is clearly absent, where the elements have frayed and the color is spotted with subtle shades of brown, a sign of resolute fruition . Everywhere there were reminders that life is constantly moving forward without regard to creation or its demise. I found this inspiration in a dried palm that seems to lean to a direction in sad decay, a large seashell ravaged by time looking more like bone than shell, the insect stopped dead in it’s tracks by the overwhelming heat or lack of hydration; the impermanence reflecting the beauty of all that nature will endure.
This centuries old concept was derived from Buddist teaching in Japan and is called Wabi-Sabi: “the aesthetic centered on the acceptance of transience, imperfect and incompleteness of life”. Characteristics of the wabi-sabi aesthetic include roughness, irregularity, simplicity, economy, austerity, modesty, intimacy, and appreciation of the ingenuous integrity of natural objects and processes. Wabi-sabi images, although it can be difficult to explain, asks us to contemplate our “own mortality and evoke and existential loneliness and tender sadness.”
See more work on my recently updated site: tamarastaples.com
Voo Doo Doll
For a still life photographer, there’s nothing better than finding something unusual to photograph. This was found outside of our apartment building in the South Slope, Brooklyn. We happen to live across the street from the nearly 200 year old Greenwood Cemetery making it all the more creepy and interesting.
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Summer excursion to Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge 
Strick&Williams
I was thrilled when the newly formed design dynamo, Stick&Williams, called me to work on a project. The design problem was unique in that they wanted to put together a teaser for a book cover, instead of the actual cover. The solution was, just like Charlotte and Claire: beautiful, smart, creative. Looking forward to seeing what else these ladies produce!
Adventure To Southeast Asia
Ta Prohm, Siem Reap, Cambodia
I’ve been woefully neglecting my blog these past few months. But fear not, I am still making work. In November I moved studios from Chelsea to Gowanus in Brooklyn, I traveled to Vietnam and Cambodia for a month at the beginning of the year and most recently I’ve been working on some personal projects.
Today I’m going to share a few of my travel pictures. We traveled south to north in Vietnam, then took a week to spend time in Siem Reap, Cambodia touring the 1000 year old temples.
You can see the full trip here. Enjoy and feel free to share your travel stories!
Prasat Kravan, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Preah Khan, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Bayon, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Cambodian Countryside
Cambodian Countryside
Cambodian Countryside
Siem Reap Market, Cambodia
Halong Bay, Vietnam
Ninh Binh, Vietnam
Ninh Binh, Vietnam
Mekong Delta, Vietnam
Mekong Delta, Vietnam
Hoi An, Vietnam
Hoi An, Vietnam
Hanoi, Vietnam
Hanoi, Vietnam
Hanoi, Vietnam
Hanoi, Vietnam
Adventure Time Crafts
I am proud to present Adventure Time Crafts. This book was not only a fun project with a great art director, but also it impressed my 8 year old son. He’s informed me that I’m to make all of the crafts within. Buyer Beware!
Art Director: Stephanie Huntwork Prop Stylist: Derek Ellis Publisher: Potter Craft
a chair, a bottle and some keys
James Ostrer
“The works become a catalogue of self- destructive behaviours, and are also managed in such a way that while transgressing themselves as odes to great works of historical art practice, they become re-packaged eye candy for uncomfortable consumption. They are bittersweet to the point of decay and emphasize much of our contemporary society’s needs for synthetic glucose praise, and, in doing so, proselytize the image as a new catalogue of self-harming sugar worship.”
Ice is Nice
I shot this editorial project over the summer but the client bounced it and the direction was redesigned. This happens occasionally. The architectural aspect is intriguing to me, plus the jewelry, ladies, the jewelry… Gorgeous styling by Julie Flynn.
Tamara Staples Photography 