When the latest copy of Architectural Digest arrived, the feature about photographer Clifford Ross immediately caught my eye. I am just fascinated with his photos of the ocean.
A New York native, Ross earned his BA in Art and Art History from Yale in 1974. He began his career with painting and sculpture, not turning to photography until the 1990s. His large scale black and white photos in the Hurricanes series from 1996 represent a milestone in his photography career. He captured these incredible shots during hurricanes by actually going into the water, keeping himself tethered to an assistant on land.
I have always been so drawn by the water and find Ross’s photos of rolling surfs and hurricane waves to be ridiculously beautiful. He really puts himself in harm’s way to capture these moments, creating work that is truly special.
Ross’s work has been exhibited widely in the United States, Europe, Brazil, and China. It can also be found in many public collections, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City, the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, and the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston. You can see more of his work on his website.