Ian Wagreich Photography

Inspired by Houston at Night!

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 00:09:44 -0400

Inspired by Houston at Night!

Twenty months ago I participated in a workshop with the very...

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 14:21:00 -0400

Twenty months ago I participated in a workshop with the very talented fine art photographer Keith Carter in Santa Fe and about 13 other photographers ranging from advanced hobbyist to professional. Apart from learning how to take chances with our work and make some great photographs along the way, we all established a great dynamic during the week and kept in touch, somewhat of a rarity in the workshop circuit.

Having participated in many such weeklong jaunts in Santa Fe and elsewhere and with some very kind and talented photographer/instructors who gave us a week of their time, this was the first where we all committed to something more. This weekend that commitment becomes a reality as I and five others from the group will take another chance and attend the Fotofest biennial in Houston where we agreed – 20-months-ago – to bring a progression of our work or project for review by art buyers and other professionals. It’s a big deal.

Had it not been for the others and the commitment we made to each other I’m not sure BLUE: America at Work would have progressed as cohesively as it has. It reminds me how important our peers are in our own personal growth. That, even from afar, friends can offer kindness and support that can manifest itself as progress. For an artist, craft can often become stymied. So that energy is invaluable.

“We live at the level of our language” we are encouraged. And this weekend my narrative will be strong.

As many of you know I’ve spent more than a decade...

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 01:15:38 -0400

As many of you know I’ve spent more than a decade photographing businesses, CEOs and industry leaders around America. Well, at long last I’m pleased to finally announce the web presence (www.blueamericaatwork.com) of a personal project documenting workers at many factories and production plants.

Motivated by the strength of early 20th Century photographers and their beautiful and telling images of workers in similar environments, I’ve set off to capture and tell the story of what Made in America looks like.

BLUE: AMERICA at WORK is an ongoing film-based project documenting the many anonymous faces in factories and production plants around the U.S. that make the products we rely on every day. I hope you’ll check in and check out the images I’ve produced and check back for updates over the coming months.

Two great covers I’ve shot lately: Washington Capitals...

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:22:42 -0500

Two great covers I’ve shot lately: Washington Capitals & Wizards owner Ted Leonsis and Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels. Both were very easy to work with and very giving of their time. And both were classic seven minute portraits. Five to shoot and 2 to chat!

Manufacturing workers in Michigan. These good people have spent...

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:15:00 -0500

Manufacturing workers in Michigan. These good people have spent more than three decades on the job and still love what they do.

Red Rock Canyon, outside Las Vegas.

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 19:43:00 -0500

Red Rock Canyon, outside Las Vegas.

Three intense shooting days this week took me to the famed...

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 00:20:57 -0500

Three intense shooting days this week took me to the famed Aureole restaurant in Manhattan, then off on an early morning flight across to Albuquerque where I continued my work capturing a unique perspective of workers in the manufacturing sector (set to preview in March) and finally the good people at Stewart Bros. Drilling 80 miles west in the rural high desert for Free Enterprise.

Washington, DC, USA - December 2, 2011: Pres. Barack Obama...

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 14:23:00 -0500

Washington, DC, USA - December 2, 2011: Pres. Barack Obama announces a $4 billion effort to increase the energy efficiency of government and other private sector buildings at a retrofit construction site at 815 Connecticute Ave. Photo by Ian Wagreich / © U.S. Chamber of Commerce

It’s been such a treat to photograph this family year...

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 23:35:53 -0500

It’s been such a treat to photograph this family year after year and watch their young daughter grow. I’m always filled with apprehension going into the shoot, feeling at a loss for what to shoot that is different than the year before. And each year the collaboration grows into something new and wonderful.

Being busy is good but doesn’t give me the opportunity to...

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 23:02:23 -0500

Being busy is good but doesn’t give me the opportunity to stay current. No time like the present to catch up. Here’s a photo shot by David Bohrer when Pres. Obama visited the Chamber back in September. That’s me in the white.

A product of last month’s adventure to the Sonoran Desert...

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 09:24:22 -0500

A product of last month’s adventure to the Sonoran Desert National Monument (Table Top Wildnerness area).

I covered Michelle Obama’s visit to the U.S. Chamber...

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 15:00:00 -0500

I covered Michelle Obama’s visit to the U.S. Chamber yesterday to honor America’s veterans. She’s a kind soul and it was great to work with her staff.

Today’s day trip to Indy for a magazine shoot of Indiana...

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 23:44:00 -0500

Today’s day trip to Indy for a magazine shoot of Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels was a hoot. Go Hoosiers!

These are outtakes and exposure checks on a work-in-progress...

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 23:43:12 -0500

These are outtakes and exposure checks on a work-in-progress project called “Blue”. I spent the last days in Louisiana, photographing the good people at a sugar mill and surrounding cane fields.

Lucy is our 17-month-old purebread German Shepherd Dog. She is a...

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 23:00:00 -0500

Lucy is our 17-month-old purebread German Shepherd Dog. She is a bundle of joy and the sweetest pup you could ever imagine. She doesn’t know how good she’s got it — from delicious meals to several ball throwing sessions a day, she’s a privileged dog. On this gorgeous day we took what will likely be her last swim of the season.