Cody Cobb Interview – 50 States (Washington)
Cody Cobb – “I can’t imagine a better introduction to that universe than Washington State’s national parks and wilderness areas”
This week Creative Chair is in Seattle, Washington, where we’re talking with photographer Cody Cobb for the 43rd instalment of our 50 States series.
Cody lives in Washington but has travelled all over the American West, capturing scenes of unspoilt wilderness.
You can see a lot more from Cody Cobb on his website.
Tell us a little bit more about yourself and what you do
Hello, my name is Cody and I’m an artist living in Seattle where I work as a motion designer, compositor and colorist. In my free time, I like to get lost in the wilderness and take pictures of rocks and trees I encounter along the way.
How has your state influenced the work that you do?
When I first moved up to Washington State from small-town Louisiana, an entirely new universe of solitude opened up for me when I found myself alone in the wilderness for the first time. I’d never felt so intimidated by the Earth itself. My entire sense of scale (and self) was completely distorted and I very suddenly felt so insignificant in the most humbling way. That feeling of submitting to something so much larger has stuck with me and is something I’m always attempting to capture in my photos.
I can’t imagine a better introduction to that universe than Washington State’s national parks and wilderness areas.
Of your own work, what is your favourite project and why?
I typically don’t set out with a specific project in mind. For my personal work, it’s more about solitary immersion in a place and how that affects my observations. I only dedicate time to a region and carry no expectations of coming back with any photos to show for it. With that said, my favorite place I’ve explored is still Olympic National Park in Washington State. It’s a place I can explore year-round, from the rugged coastline to alpine meadows and dense rainforests. I’m always discovering something new and always thinking about the transformative experiences I’ve had there for the last decade.
And finally, if you died and got reincarnated as a song, what would that song be?
I feel like I’ve already begun the process of channelling my energy into the track “Samadhi” from Shiho Yabuki’s “The Body is a Message of the Universe.” It’s in heavy circulation on my playlist for editing photos, so hopefully, I’ve managed to channel it back into my own art as well.
