Silhouette, Drummer Sound Check, Eric Newnam, 2014, silver gelatin print, 8 x 14 in. / 20.32 x 35.56 cm.

Moon Light Journeys in Eric Newnam’s Work

January 28, 2025 Gavin Coates

Featured image: Silhouette, Drummer Sound Check, Eric Newnam, 2014, silver gelatin print, 8 x 14 in. / 20.32 x 35.56 cm.

Eric Newnam’s striking black-and-white photography captures the raw essence of light, landscape, and cultural heritage.

Eric Newnam is a fine art photographer renowned for his silver gelatin prints that explore light, landscapes, and cultural heritage with evocative precision.

His works, created using silver gelatin prints, are rich in detail and emotion, inviting viewers into an intimate exploration of the natural world and Indigenous traditions. Each artwork reveals a unique perspective while tying into a shared theme of spiritual connection to nature and heritage.

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Path of the Moon, Malibu CA, Eric Newnam, 2012, silver gelatin print, 14 x 11 in. / 35.56 x 27.94 cm.

“Path of the Moon, Malibu CA” (2012) depicts a luminous arc cutting across the sky, framing jagged rock formations and an opening that hints at a hidden portal to another world. Newnam’s masterful use of silver gelatin highlights the interplay between light and shadow, creating an otherworldly glow. The piece evokes themes of cosmic wonder and humanity’s longing for connection with celestial forces. The composition, with its stark contrasts and flowing gradients, emphasizes the fragile balance between earthly permanence and the ephemeral nature of moonlight.

White Mountain Apache Crown Dancer, Albuquerque, NM, Eric Newnam, 2021, silver gelatin print, 12 x 8 in. / 30.48 x 20.32 cm.

In “White Mountain Apache Crown Dancer, Albuquerque, NM” (2021), Newnam captures a ceremonial figure adorned with a traditional headdress and intricate patterns. This photograph pays homage to the cultural depth of the White Mountain Apache tribe. The stark black-and-white palette emphasizes the dynamic tension between movement and stillness, echoing the spiritual energy of the dancer. Newnam’s work not only documents but reveres Indigenous rituals, offering a visual narrative steeped in respect and cultural significance. The figure’s presence speaks to the endurance of heritage and its ability to transcend timPath of the Moon, Joshua Tree National Park, Eric Newnam, 2021, gelatin silver print, 8 x 14 in. / 20.32 x 35.56 cm.

“Path of the Moon, Joshua Tree National Park” (2021) features the dramatic silhouettes of Joshua trees illuminated by a brilliant streak of moonlight. The photograph captures the surreal beauty of the desert landscape at night, presenting the trees as sentinels standing beneath the vast cosmos. The silver gelatin medium accentuates the intricate textures of the trees and the luminous pathway of the moon. This image conveys a sense of timelessness, portraying the desert as both a place of isolation and profound connection with the universe. Newnam’s framing draws the viewer’s eye upward, inviting contemplation of humanity’s place within the infinite.

Eric Newnam’s artworks converge around the theme of light as a conduit for meaning, whether illuminating natural landscapes or cultural traditions. Through his meticulous silver gelatin technique, he transforms moments into meditative experiences. Newnam’s ability to bridge the earthly and the celestial, the cultural and the universal, invites viewers to reflect on their own connections to history, nature, and the cosmos. Together, these works create a tapestry that celebrates both the tangible and the intangible, grounding us in the present while inspiring a sense of wonder.

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