From New York to Northern California: A Photographic Awakening
In 2013, photographer Curran Hatleberg made a life-changing decision. After a long period residing in New York, where he found the vibrant social scene did not translate into a compelling photographic subject for him, he seized an opportunity to teach in Eureka, California. This move to the northern part of the state unlocked a new and profound creative chapter in his career.
Northern California presented itself as a rugged and confounding landscape, a place that felt like the distant edge of the world. Hatleberg described living in an old house on a hill with a view of the Pacific Ocean and redwoods, where a transient population came and went. He was struck by a powerful sensation that he, like many he met there, could simply vanish without a trace.
The Making of Lost Coast
His time in Eureka marked the first instance he had stayed in one location for an extended period. Teaching two days a week at the local community college afforded him the freedom to explore for the remainder of his time. This intensive focus, akin to an artistic residency, allowed him to build relationships and immerse himself in the community, leading directly to his acclaimed body of work, Lost Coast.
Hatleberg's photographic process is intensely personal and direct. He approaches potential subjects with his camera, openly explaining his work. He believes that trust and mutual curiosity are the essential foundations for a successful portrait. For him, the collaboration and shared vulnerability between photographer and subject are what make the resulting images so compelling.
The Miracle Shot: An Alley Transformed
The photograph he identifies as his best is a perfect example of the interplay between chance, intuition, and patience that defines great street photography. He had visited a particular location numerous times without finding a picture there. On this specific afternoon, he had returned hoping to meet someone he knew.
Instead, he turned a corner and witnessed a scene that seemed to miraculously assemble itself: a dusty alley lined with daisies, a few redheads, a handful of puppies, and a woman holding a gas can, all bathed in a blinding sun. This was the moment he had been waiting for—the instant where every element coalesced into a perfect, fleeting composition.
Hatleberg values photographs that are open-ended, asking more questions than they answer. He seeks to engage the viewer, inviting them to actively participate in creating the narrative. He sees the camera as a tool with an amazing ability to transform the everyday chaos of the world into a coherent and harmonious image, making the mundane feel truly transcendent.
A new edition of Lost Coast, along with Hatleberg's newer book, Blood Green, are published by TBW Books.
