Foreword by Lesley Brill

11" x 13 3/4", with over 100 black-and-white photographs from the Water Series printed in quadtone

Published by Insight Editions
Hardcover, $75.00 ($97.00 CAN)
ISBN-13: 978-1-933784-17-5
On Sale: September 25, 2007

The watery depths of Brian Oglesbee's photographs beguile the eye. In the world of his evocative and magnificent photography, nothing is quite what is seems. The rich, sensual images of his "Water Series," captured here, draw the eye again and again in an ongoing search for the meaning contained in these mysterious figures.

These photographs record, without alteration, what was within the field of view of the lens when the film was exposed. Yet the worlds Oglesbee creates - often as elaborately constructed and illuminated as movie sets - are both paradoxical and richly expressive. Lovingly reproduced in rich quadtone printing, these photographs, many shown here for the first time, can be seen in all their complexity as they were meant to be viewed.

At the heart of this photographic series is the artist's joy of creation. Oglesbee's fluid photos flow with energy. Each fecund image born of his imagination is, in itself, a universe. Human figures both create these worlds and are born along with them. These figures are as goddesses and gods, at once feminine and androgynous; they are both themselves in particular and reflections of all who look upon them.

Praise for Aquatique:

Ralph Gibson:

"Brian Oglesbee creates his images from the inside out. These photographs are purely the product of photography and function as such without the slightest doubt as to their integrity. Only photography could produce these images and only Oglesbee could produce these photographs. He is a photographer in the clearest sense of the word."

Ralph Gibson, legendary fine art photographer and book artist.

Miles Barth:

"I've known Brian and his work in photography for over 35 years. We were in school together in Chicago studying art. While Brian was busy taking and making photographs, I was becoming more interested in art history especially as it applied to photography and filmmaking.

From that early time, Brian was not caught up in the prevailing wind of pseudo documentary photography. His work was about the magical and mystical qualities inherent in the medium. As was the case then, as it is today, his prints always made people ask 'how did you do that?' To me it never mattered what Brian did with his imagination, his equipment or any kinds of darkroom experiments. His photographs challenged me to think about the very nature of why photography was an art, and why it took so long for so many to come to this realization. Had Brian been working during the first half of the last century, I'm sure that Alfred Stieglitz would have also been a fan."

Miles Barth, Founding Curator, Permanent Collection, International Center of Photography, New York. Currently an author, independent curator and advisor to numerous public and private photography collections.

Jay Maisel:

"I was at an art show in NYC when I saw one of Brian Oglesbee's prints. At the same time I spotted a noted gallery owner I know and I said, 'Did you see that print?' The answer was, 'Yeah,' but without a great deal of enthusiasm. I said, "I know you looked at it, but did you SEE it?"
'Yes, of course I did'
'No you didn't,' I said.
'What the hell are you talking about? I said I saw it!'
'No. You looked at it but you didn't SEE it!" and with that I grabbed their wrist and dragged them up close, where the multiplicity of images within images were visible. The response was: OH -- MY -- GOD . . . NOW I see it!'

Look closely at Brian's work. It brings great rewards (even if it's only black & white.)"

Jay Maisel, "one of the most acclaimed and respected figures in international photography," and perhaps the most famous living person working in color. He has published over 15 books of photographs.

Read the article in American Photo magazine about Brian Oglesbee and Aquatique by Jeff Wignall.

Read about the Aquatique window display at the Chelsea Barnes & Noble in Manhattan.

Read about the exhibition at the Pritchard Art Gallery.