JAMIE BALDRIDGE
Photographer

Provide an educational background including professional experience.

I received my BFA from LSU; and, after briefly attending the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, I returned to LSU to complete my MFA. I am currently an assistant professor of photography at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette where I teach all levels of photography, art & the computer and foundations.

Why did you choose LSU for your education?

I chose LSU for my education because of its peerless reputation, variety of disciplines and quality of instructors. After having attended, visited, lectured and taught at so many other universities both nationally and internationally, I still consider LSU to be one of the best. LSU has always taken its academic reputation very seriously and I have no doubt it shall continue to do so in the future. Also, for a state like Louisiana, which has suffered so much adversity, to be home to such a stellar institution is quite amazing. I and my family are very proud of our alumni affiliations with the University. Furthermore, if I remain in Louisiana, I would not hesitate to send my own children to LSU with the confidence that they would receive the same exemplary education as I.

How did your LSU degree help to prepare you for your profession?

My professors at LSU were the lynchpins to my success. It is as simple as that. I was fortunate enough to have been taught by some of the greatest educators and practitioners in their respective fields in the world. Exploration was always encouraged as was being accountable towards the very process of enlightenment. I learned that my curiosity would always be met by my instructors’ expertise and my explorations would always be welcome in my University’s facilities. Without equivocation I can say that my current success is the pearl that formed around my experiences at LSU.

What current or past research and projects/exhibitions have you done?

In 2008, 21st Editions published my first book The Everywhere Chronicles, a collection of 13 fanciful images that were digitally created and hand-printed in pigment ink.

In late 2008, I had my first international solo exhibition at the Richard Goodall Gallery in Manchester, U.K. I followed that up early this year with another solo exhibition at the Camara Oscura Gallerie de Arte in Madrid, Spain.

I have been exhibiting fairly regularly nationally, but this is the first time in my career that I am beginning to get international attention. It is very humbling. Currently, I am hard at work on my next two series called Dystopia, which I hope will culminate in another book, and 16 Ways, which is a real departure from my common and comfortable working style. Although the narratives for Dystopia have been written for some time, I still have to produce many of the images to accompany them. The series has been such a watershed for me; its constant evolution is keeping me very busy.

I have also been experimenting with stereo anaglyph images for 16 Ways, which are posing much more of a challenge than I had anticipated, but it seems that the rewards will be boundless if I am able to perfect my technique. I am also working as the cinematographer on a lovely short animation being produced out of New Orleans by an incredibly talented group of young men and women.

Please list any awards or special recognition that you have received.

The Everywhere Chronicles by 21st Editions won the Lucie Award in 2008, which is one of the highest awards in the photography world. I was also featured in interviews on BBC Channel 4 and on the Becky Want Show on Radio BBC. I have been extremely fortunate in the past year in that my work has gotten a lot of good press.

What are your plans for the future?

I plan on furthering my career as a professional artist and writer in conjunction with my continued life as an academic. Although I enjoy teaching photography, especially combining vintage processes with digital processes, I would like to involve myself more in teaching the digital arts in the near future. This new medium is so expansive, egalitarian, fecund, undiscovered and brimming with creative potential unseen ever before in history, I feel it is my responsibility as an artist and professor to shepherd students as they utilize this new medium as a tool of fine art and not simply as a clever expression of technology.