Featured Photographer: Debbie Bentley – “Bentlandia”
In the world of photography, where precision and planning often take center stage, there exists a realm of spontaneity that echoes the creative spirit of Debbie Bentley. Born in the picturesque landscapes of Denver, Colorado, and nurtured amid the artistic tapestry of Boulder and Longmont, Bentley's journey into the world of photography was a late bloomer but one that resonates with a passion deeply rooted in creativity.
Bentley's narrative unfolds like a tapestry woven with diverse threads of experiences. A graduate of Regis University in Denver, her early years saw her immersed in educational settings. Later, a significant shift occurred as she and her husband took the reins of a business venture in California for two fruitful decades. This transition, however, became the catalyst for her intimate affair with the lens.
"I always had an interest in photography, even as a child," Bentley reflects. Childhood snapshots capture her with cameras around her neck, foreshadowing the photographer she would become. It wasn't until later in adulthood, inheriting her grandfather's Kodak Pony 135C, that Bentley truly embarked on her photographic journey.
Her camera collection reads like a museum exhibit, spanning Kodak gems from the early 1900s to the iconic Leica M4 and Hasselblad. Among these, her beloved Hasselblad 500 CM, Leica M4, and Nikon FM stand out as trusted companions. Bentley's approach is refreshingly equitable – any camera, anytime. Sometimes, she even takes matters into her own hands, modifying film reels to accommodate modern film stocks with a glue gun and pocket knife.
Film photography is her forte, with a penchant for Ilford films, especially HP5 and FP4. For color, Bentley's heart leans towards Portra, though she confesses to using any film that comes her way, even if it's expired. Pushing and pulling film, cross-processing, and embracing the imperfections – these are the nuances that give her images a raw, unfiltered quality.
Bentley's project is a testament to the spontaneity that defines her personality. In her project "Bentlandia," she captures moments of whimsy, the unusual, and the absurd. Of course, humor is always a refreshing change of pace in photographic bodies of work. Unlike her environmental work, where meticulous planning reigns supreme, "Bentlandia" is a dance of freedom, celebrating life's unexpected moments.
As we delve into her future projects, Bentley's creative spirit continues to soar. From documenting the decline of Dearfield, Colorado, to embarking on a visual journey along the Missouri River, she navigates the diverse landscapes of her projects with an unbridled passion.
Notably, Bentley's latest book, "Dammed: Birth to Death of the Colorado River," set to be released in January 2024, is a profound culmination of her multiyear environmental photography project. The book intricately weaves together film and digital photography, offering a visual narrative of the complex ecosystem of the endangered Colorado River.
Debbie Bentley's story is a testament to the boundless possibilities of creativity, a reminder that art transcends formal education and can emerge from the school of hard knocks, research, and experimentation. As she continues to explore new vistas through her lens, Bentley remains a beacon for those who believe in the transformative power of spontaneous and authentic expression in the realm of photography.
GALLERY
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Debbie Bentley is a photographer from Denver, Colorado. Her work focuses primarily on the documentation of places and environments, their connection to the internal parts of people, and the need to see and record this connectivity.
Her work documenting the Salton Sea in Imperial County, California, was the subject of a 2020 Daylight Books monograph Salton Sea: of Dust and Water with forward by Mark Murrmann, photo editor at Mother Jones. The project, and subsequent book, captured the Salton Sea and dust remediation projects in 2018: the first-year state and federally mandated water transfers ended to the Sea. Images from this body of work were featured in Bloomberg BusinessWeek.
Ms. Bentley currently serves on the board of directors at PhotoAlliance in San Francisco, CA.
She is currently working on a number of projects, most notably Dammed; Birth to Death of the Colorado River. Images and text from the project are included in the upcoming book of the same name, published by Daylight Books, and slated for release in January of 2024.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Michael Kirchoff is a photographic artist, independent curator and juror, and advocate for the photographic arts. He has been a juror for Photolucida’s Critical Mass, and has reviewed portfolios for several fine art photographic organizations and non-profits in the U.S. and abroad. Michael has been a contributing writer for Lenscratch, Light Leaked, and Don’t Take Pictures magazine. In addition, he spent ten years (2006-2016) on the Board of the American Photographic Artists in Los Angeles (APA/LA), producing artist lectures, as well as business and inspirational events for the community. Currently, he is Editor-in-Chief at Analog Forever Magazine, Founding Editor for the photographer interview site, Catalyst: Interviews, Contributing Editor at One Twelve Publishing, and the Co-Host of The Diffusion Tapes podcast.
Connect with Michael Kirchoff on his Website and Instagram!
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