Work samples

  • C&O #1
    C&O #1

    C&O #1, 2024, Archival Pigment Print

  • C&O #2
    C&O #2

    C&O #2, 2024, Archival Pigment Print

  • C&0 #3
    C&0 #3

    C&O #3 , 2024, Archival Pigment Print

  • C&O #4
    C&O #4

    C&O #4, 2024, Archival Pigment Print

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About Chip

Baltimore City  

My photographs reveal a life presence found in rocks, streams, urban streets, puddles, and other organic places.  Though often hidden beneath the surface, I attempt to reflect this by closely observing the surfaces of the natural world.

Some of my photographs are simply observation, while other pieces are created by altering small environments, for example, placing a leaf into a puddle or fabricating a site-specific still life.

I use a variety of image-making tools,… more

View Chip's Resume
Jump to a project:

C&0 Canal

This is a series of images that I took of the C&O canal, Great Falls park, during the evening over the past year. 

  • C&0 #5
    C&0 #5

    C&O #5, 2024, Archival Pigment Print 

  • C&0 #6
    C&0 #6

    C&O #6, 2024, Archival Pigment Print 

  • C&0 #7
    C&0 #7

    C&O #7, 2024, Archival Pigment Print 

  • C&0 #8
    C&0 #8

    C&O #8, 2024, Archival Pigment Print 

  • C&0 #9
    C&0 #9

    C&O #9, 2024, Archival Pigment Print 

  • C&0 #10
    C&0 #10

    C&O #10, 2024, Archival Pigment Print 

  • C&0 #11
    C&0 #11

    C&O #11, 2024, Archival Pigment Print 

  • C&0 #12
    C&0 #12

    C&O #12, 2024, Archival Pigment Print 

  • C&0 #13
    C&0 #13

    C&O #13, 2024, Archival Pigment Print 

  • C&0 #14
    C&0 #14

    C&O #14, 2024, Archival Pigment Print 

    •

    • Monhegan Island and Maryland 2022

    Images captured on Monhegan Island, ME, North Point State Park,  Fort Howard, and Billy Goat Trail area on the Potomac River.  
    • Eye In the Ice
      Eye In the Ice
      Archival Pigment Print
    • Fall on the Potomac River
      Fall on the Potomac River
      Archival Pigment Print
    • Fall on the Potomac River #2
      Fall on the Potomac River #2
      Archival Pigment Print
    • Frozen Sky
      Frozen Sky
      Archival Pigment Print
    • Ice King #2
      Ice King #2
      Archival Pigment Print
    • Ice King
      Ice King
      Archival Pigment Print
    • Late Afternoon on the Chesapeake
      Late Afternoon on the Chesapeake
      Archival Pigment Print
    • Monhegan Island #2
      Monhegan Island #2
      Archival Pigment Print
    • Monhegan Island #1
      Monhegan Island #1
      Archival Pigment Print
    • Monhegan Island #3
      Monhegan Island #3
      Archival Pigment Print
    •

    • Iceland 2021

    Irvine receved a Lehman Travel Fellowship to Iceland in the summer of 2021. These are selected images from that trip.
    • Kelp Ghost
      Kelp Ghost
      Archival Pigment Print
    • Reykjavik # 2
      Reykjavik # 2
      Archival Inkjet Print, 2021, Reykjavik, Iceland
    • Old Ship #2 (Volcano)
      Old Ship #2 (Volcano)
      Archival Pigment Print
    • Creek # 2
      Creek # 2
      Archival Inkjet Print, 2021, Iceland
    • Ice # 2
      Ice # 2
      Archival Pigment Print
    • Ice
      Ice
      Archival Inkjet Print, 2021, Jokulsalon Glacier Lagoon, Iceland
    • Kelp
      Kelp
      Archival Ink Jet Print, 2021, Snaefellsjokull National Park, Iceland
    • Ice #3
      Ice #3
      Archival Pigment Print
    • Kelp #2
      Kelp #2
      Archival Ink Jet Print, 2021, Snaefellsjokull National Park, Iceland
    • Ice # 4
      Ice # 4
      Archival Pigment Print
    •

    • Kami


    The Kami Series: 

    In my photographic practice, I find myself in places that draw me closer to something greater than myself.  It can be an urban gutter or a pristine forest. The Kami, like other mythical beings, provide a variety of lenses to help us comprehend the phenomena of our world.

    Kami is from the Japanese Shinto philosophy, which, in broad terms, means “a life- force energy that resides in all things.” The sun, moon, mountains, and ocean are considered a Kami, as well as smaller things, such as stones, dirt, creeks, and other natural objects. There are some Kami that are associated with certain locations, and others that reflect more humanist traits. One could compare Kami with other concepts such as spirits, fairies, nymphs, ghosts, or supernatural beings.   
     

    • Mud Kami
      Mud Kami
      Archival Pigment Print, 2018 Gunpowder Fall State Park, Hereford, MD
    • The Gateless Gate
      The Gateless Gate
      Archival Pigment Print, 2018 Prettyboy Reservoir, Northwestern Baltimore County, Md
    • Ice Kami 2
      Ice Kami 2
      Archival Pigment Print, 2018 Prettyboy Reservoir, Northwestern Baltimore County, Md
    • Ice Kami
      Ice Kami
      Archival Pigment Print, 2018 Prettyboy Reservoir, Northwestern Baltimore County, Md
    • Ice Kami 3
      Ice Kami 3
      Archival Pigment Print, 2018 Prettyboy Reservoir, Northwestern Baltimore County, Md
    • Spring Kami
      Spring Kami
      Archival Pigment Print, 2018 Prettyboy Reservoir, Northwestern Baltimore County, Md
    • Wall Kami
      Wall Kami
      Archival Pigment Print, 2018 Fort Howard Park, Fort Howard, MD
    • Mud Kami
      Mud Kami
      Archival Pigment Print, 2018 C and O Canal, Knoxville, Md
    • Ice Kami 4
      Ice Kami 4
      Archival Pigment Print, 2018 Gunpowder Falls State Park, Hereford, MD
    • Lotus Kami
      Lotus Kami
      Archival Pigment Print, 2018 Lawrence Irvine's Swamp, Charles County, MD
    •

    • Dralas

    • Untitled #1
      Untitled #1
      Archival Pigment Print, 2017
    • Untitled # 2
      Untitled # 2
      Archival Pigment Print, 2016
    • Untitled # 3
      Untitled # 3
      Archival Pigment Print, 2016
    • Untitled # 4
      Untitled # 4
      Archival Pigment Print, 2016
    • Untitled # 5
      Untitled # 5
      Archival Pigment Print, 2016
    • Untitled # 6
      Untitled # 6
      Archival Pigment Print, 2016
    • Untitled # 7
      Untitled # 7
      Archival Pigment Print, 2017
    • Untitled # 8
      Untitled # 8
      Archival Pigment Print, 2017
    • Untitled # 9
      Untitled # 9
      Archival Pigment Print, 2016
    • Untitled # 10
      Untitled # 10
      Archival Pigment Print, 2016
    •

    • Water Cycles

    • Gutter Naga
      Gutter Naga
      Archival Pigment Print. Baltimore City. 2017
    • Clay Sprite
      Clay Sprite
      Archival Pigment Print. Image captured at the base of Calvert Cliffs, Maryland. 2017
    • Lotus Naga
      Lotus Naga
      Archival Pigment Print. Surface of a lotus leaf and water. 2017
    • Plant Ghost
      Plant Ghost
      Archival Pigment Print. Plant decay in the Berkshires Mountains. 2017
    • Lotus Naga
      Lotus Naga
      Archival Pigment Print. Surface of lotus leaf with water droplets. Southern Maryland. 2017
    • Mountain Sprite
      Mountain Sprite
      Archival Pigment Print. Decaying plant matter on the Appalachian Trail. Annapolis Rocks, Maryland. 2017
    • Plant Ghost 2
      Plant Ghost 2
      Archival Pigment Print. Plant decay in the Berkshires Mountains. 2017
    • Lotus Naga 2
      Lotus Naga 2
      Archival Pigment Print. Decaying lotus leaf with water droplets. 2017
    • South Rim Sprite
      South Rim Sprite
      Archival Pigment Print. South Rim at the Grand Canyon, Arizona.
    • Lotus Sprite 3
      Lotus Sprite 3
      Archival Pigment Print. Decaying lotus leaf with water. Southern Maryland. 2017
    •

    • Selected examples of Speaking Surfaces

    Speaking Surfaces captures a life presence found in rocks, streams, puddles, leaves, and other earthly environments. Very little post image processing. Compositions composed by camera angle and working with time of day.
    • Presence
      Presence
      Archival Pigment Print. Mounted on Sintra. 48" x 36" Limited Edition: 1/5. 2015 Leaf in a puddle. Decayed plant matter created cracked skin layer and rainbow effect. Patapsco State Park, Md.
    • Lichen Sprite #2
      Lichen Sprite #2
      Archival Pigment Print. Mounted on Sintra. 48" x 36" Limited Edition: 1/5. 2015 Lichen, Moss, and Seeds on rock at Gun Power Falls St. Park, Md.
    • Kami 2
      Kami 2
      Archival Pigment Print. Mounted on Sintra. 48" x 36" Limited Edition: 1/5. 2015
    • Kami
      Kami
      Archival Pigment Print. Mounted on Sintra. 48" x 36" Limited Edition: 1/5. 2015
    • Ice Sprite
      Ice Sprite
      Archival Pigment Print. Mounted on Sintra. 48" x 36" Limited Edition: 1/5. 2015
    • Skadi
      Skadi
      Archival Pigment Print. Mounted on Sintra. 48" x 36" Limited Edition: 1/5. 2015 Ice, gravel, and reflections on edge of river. Gunpowder St. Park
    •

    • Speaking Surfaces Solo Exhibition

    Speaking Surfaces Exhibition.
    Stevenson University 2015

    (14) Archival Pigment Prints.
    Mounted on Sintra. 48"x 36"

    I transformed Stevenson's University gallery into a ‘living’ space full of windows that open into worlds of colorful, figurative, textural, and atmospheric scenes. I provided a calming, yet energetic, sanctuary where viewers were transported into mysterious, unbelievable, and extraordinary places.

    This series portrays an existence of figurative beings, landscapes, and dream realities that can be found by closely observing the surfaces of the natural world. These prints capture the life presence found in rocks, streams, puddles, leaves, and other organic places. This body of photographs began in the mountains of Northwestern Vermont in 2011 and continues into the parks of Central and Western Maryland.

    Very little post image processing was used to create these prints. Compositions were composed by camera angles, point of view, and working with the time of day.
    • Speaking Surfaces Solo Exhibition
      Speaking Surfaces Solo Exhibition
      Stevenson University Installation Image. 2015 Left: Ice Sprite #3 Right: Prana
    • Prana
      Prana
      Archival Pigment Print. Mounted on Sintra. 48" x 36" Limited Edition: 1/5. 2015
    • Speaking Surfaces Solo Exhibition
      Speaking Surfaces Solo Exhibition
      Stevenson University Installation Image. 2015 Left to right: Kami # 2, Kami, and Tree Wrinkle
    • Speaking Surfaces Solo Exhibition
      Speaking Surfaces Solo Exhibition
      Stevenson University Installation Image. 2015 Left Wall: Kami #2, Kami and Tree Wrinkle. Right Wall: Ice Sprite, Presence, and Bog Sprite.
    • Preta
      Preta
      Archival Pigment Print. Mounted on Sintra. 48" x 36" Limited Edition: 1/5. 2015
    • Speaking Surfaces Solo Exhibition
      Speaking Surfaces Solo Exhibition
      Stevenson University Installation Image. 2015 Left wall: Presence and Bog Sprite. Right Wall: Ice Sprite 3, Prana, and Fire King,
    • Speaking Surfaces Solo Exhibition
      Speaking Surfaces Solo Exhibition
      Stevenson University Installation Image. 2015 Left to right: Rock Sprite# 3, Skadi, and Preta
    • Ice Sprite # 2
      Ice Sprite # 2
      Archival Pigment Print. Mounted on Sintra. 48" x 36" Limited Edition: 1/5. 2015 Gunpowder St. Park.
    • Speaking Surfaces Solo Exhibition
      Speaking Surfaces Solo Exhibition
      Stevenson University Installation Image. 2015 Left to right: Ice Sprite # 3, Prana, Fire King, and Ice Sprite #2
    • Fire King
      Fire King
      Archival Pigment Print. Mounted on Sintra. 48" x 36" Limited Edition: 1/5. 2015
    •

    • Selected examples of Speaking Surfaces

    Speaking Surfaces captures a life presence found in rocks, streams, puddles, leaves, and other earthly environments. Very little post image processing. Compositions composed by camera angle and working with time of day.
    • Bog Sprite
      Bog Sprite
      Archival Pigment Print. Mounted on Sintra. 48" x 36" Limited Edition: 1/5. 2015 Leaf in a bog. Decayed plant matter created cracked skin layer and rainbow effect. Swallow Fall's, Vermont.
    • Rock Sprite 3
      Rock Sprite 3
      Archival Pigment Print. Mounted on Sintra. 48" x 36" Limited Edition: 1/5. 2015 Gunpowder St. Park
    • Tree Wrinkle
      Tree Wrinkle
      Archival Pigment Print. Mounted on Sintra. 48" x 36" Limited Edition: 1/5. 2015 Gun Power Falls St. Park, Md.
    • Rock Sprite
      Rock Sprite
      Archival Pigment Print. Mounted on Sintra. 48" x 36" Limited Edition: 1/5. 2015 Lichen on rock. Harper's Ferry, Md.
    •

    • Images from Street Series

    I've spent many years walking around the streets of Baltimore looking for signs of the cosmos, and vast landscapes in gutters, alleys, sidewalks, streets, puddles, and other post-industrial surfaces.

    I've exhibited these images as large-scale prints, and also integrated them into mixed-media installations.
    • Lace
      Lace
      17" by 22" archival inkjet print Toilet Paper in an alley way street in Fell's Point, Baltimore MD. Homeless people frequently relieve themselves in this area. The toilet paper resembles a "street ghost" with a etherial presence. Yet, it is most likely a left over toilet implement left by a suffering Baltimore resident...
    • starburst-2
      starburst-2
      44' by 56' archival inkjet print Broadway gas slick.
    • Splat # 3
      Splat # 3
      17" by 22" archival Inkjet Print Broken wine bottle and vomit on Register Street.
    • D.C. Mall Blanket
      D.C. Mall Blanket
      44" by 56" archival Ink Jet Print Homeless Person's blanket in the rain.
    • God
      God
      17' by 22' archival inkjet print Gas and tree polen mix in a gutter puddle on Register Street.
    • Starry Night in the River
      Starry Night in the River
      17" by 22" archival inkjet print Frozen Patapsco river with oil slick, and sun set reflection at Center Dock Marina a.k.a. Living Classrooms Foundation.
    • Alley-Puddle
      Alley-Puddle
      17' by 22' archival inkjet print Gas, reflections, and puddle mix in gutter on Register Street.
    • Ferry Boat Man
      Ferry Boat Man
      44" by 56" archival inkjet print Gutter puddle reflection with yellow tree pollen on Register Street.
    • Gutter Juice
      Gutter Juice
      44" by 56" archival inkjet print In this piece, for example, an unrelated image was made to resemble a colorful and abstract rocky landscape with a figure standing in the picture. An imaginary reddish and blue sky appears part of a brewing storm or sunset and, upon closer inspection, the viewer can see numerous faces and designs created within the fictitious sky. I actually discovered this scene on the cement, next to the back door of a restaurant that smelled like cooking grease, so I assumed that it was cooking oil dumped into the alley street. I bent down and positioned the camera close to the subject in order to capture the reflections of the blue sky on the surface of the cooking oil. When I observed this leftover cooking material in the alleyway, dripping into the gutter, I saw it through my creative mind. I was transported to another place, where I saw a beautiful landscape in this undesirable environment.
    • Starburst
      Starburst
      44" by 56" archival inkjet print This image was captured on the surface of Broadway near Aliceanna street after a rain shower. Automobiles leak oil or gas onto the street while waiting for traffic lights and, when the road is dry, the fuel spills are not noticeable. During and after a rain shower, however, the oil mixes with the water and to create a rainbow effect. This particular oil rainbow reminded me of images of exploding stars from the Hubble telescope, and created the illusion of organic life forms that had been sprouted from the asphalt. I interpreted this scene in two ways. My first interpretation was that the image reminded me of major environmental disasters caused by petrol fuel in the Gulf of Mexico and elsewhere. Our modern existence in the U.S. and abroad relies on oil and without it, out civilization would come to a halt. We would be simplified into an existence similar to that of the third world, with mass starvation and electrical blackouts producing an apocalyptic situation. It takes enormous amounts of oil to keep America’s heart beating, and it seems that oil has become the blood of the modern world. My second interpretation of the oil spill was that it evoked a beautiful cosmic rainbow-flower on the street. The oil stain reflects time, reminiscent of an era millions of years before humans walked the earth. It invokes thoughts of dinosaurs and ancient fauna, and is a reminder of our mortality, not as individuals but as a human race. Rainbows created by oil stains on the street are reminiscent of life forms. Rainbows are symbolic of spiritual powers in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Rainbows remind me that everything has an expiration date.
    •