Artist Profile: Greg Wigler

I recently came across some interesting Infrared photography by Artist Greg Wigler, and I ask him about his work.

 

Welcome Greg, please tell us about yourself and your background

Born in Pennsylvania and raised in California. I have lived in California, Colorado and Tennessee. I was interested in photography while in high school, but never had the chance to do much. I bought a Mamiya/Sekor 35mm camera from a returned Viet Nam vet and started teaching myself. Read most of the photo magazines and learned a lot from them. I spent some time working as a night shift supervisor at the Fox Photo lab in Denver during 1974-75 and learned much about processing there. I started shooting some event photos in the late 70’s and eventually became staff photographer for Road Home Productions in Denver, which promoted concerts in the Denver area. That led to magazine covers and work with several record companies. I went on the road with one of the bands and toured the U.S and Europe with them. Did another tour with a band from Memphis, 90 cities in six months or so. I ended up doing photography, merchandise management and road management. Then I married, had a horse ranch in California.   And after that fell apart, I returned to Colorado where I am doing HDR and IR photography, especially of the Stanley Hotel (think “The Shining”).

 

How long have you been a photographer?

Depends on what you mean by that. If you mean ‘serious’, then since the late 70’s, so 36 years, off and on.

How long have you been shooting Infrared?

I shot some Ektachrome IR in the early 70’s and then tried a roll of b/w IR around 1980. I did not try that earlier as I had no darkroom of my own. I was amazed by the results, but the 25a filter and loading/unloading the camera in total darkness was a real pain.

What  types of Infrared images do you make?

I love to experiment and have had interesting results in fashion, landscape, architecture and portraiture. My photography style is somewhat graphic, so it fits well.

How is your IR photography received by your clients?

Well, up here in the Rocky Mountains, it does draw a lot of interest. I have three HDR IR images of the Stanley Hotel that do sell well.

What would you say is your best photographic  achievement?

Well, that would be when I received a call from London asking about my U2 images from their show at the Red Rocks amphitheatre for the video “Under A Blood Red Sky”. They bought the rights to about 15 images for the re mastered cd/dvd/lp. And seeing those images in Rolling Stone, Blender, Spin and several other magazines, plus being interviewed by BBC TV for “The World’s Greatest Gig’s” was really cool. My sons bragged about their dad having photos in Rolling Stone, their classmates laughed at them until they took the magazine to school..

What do like best about IR photography?



The totally unexpected results I sometimes get. The fashion shots of my designer/model friend Sonia Ontiveros have been amazing. I had spotted this old gate on a place where she likes to run, I think it is from the 1930’s, with some prickly pear cactus behind it. Amazing image. The California pepper trees also come out looking like lace.

What do you find most challenging about IR?

Probably light, those flat cloudy days are terrible. Good lighting and a good contrast range really help. I have also experimented with doing HDR images in IR, one of my best selling images of the Stanley Hotel was shot that way, The increase in detail from my Rebel XT 6.3 mp camera was amazing. I now use a Rebel T3i, both cameras were converted by Life Pixel and I just love them.

If you could pass on just one tip about IR, what would it be?

Go out and shoot everything that interests you, there is an old Greek word ‘epiginosko’ that means essentially, knowledge gained through experience, and I think that is the best teacher.

Do you have any projects currently going you would like to discuss?

Not really, just always keep that IR camera close, because you just never know what might cross your path.