Che M. Graves  ~ Photographer ~ Artist Statement

From the beginning, Che Graves was never seen without a pencil in hand, always trying to rush through his studies to find more time to sketch out a new face or design.  For years he strived to find the one thing that quieted the noise in his head that screamed at full volume. The constant racket ceased, the first time he picked up a camera, and it hasn’t been far from his side, ever since.

With no formal training, Graves has an eye for the perfect mix of light and shadow.  He worked as a photo lab manager while trying to master the camera and film, learning to manipulate it to do the things he visualized in his head.  He then started his own business, studio, and left film behind.  He eventually mastered the digital slr, almost willing the camera to do his work.

Graves expresses his creativity in two distinct styles.  The first being his light and shadow, classic art nudes, and the way he uses light and wraps it around the human form, to accentuate the natural curves of the body.  The second style is shown in a series of images mostly from around Oklahoma.  They are images of things that life and society have left behind, once useful objects that one couldn’t get through the day without.  He has dubbed this series “Forgotten”.  Some of these places and things are just off a major road and highway and if you slow down enough, you may see them.

No matter the theme or the subject matter, Che Graves hopes that you see something in his work that you normally may not.  Most of his work remains just out of sight……take the time to look, and you will see.