Artist's Statement : Murmuration
Mur·mur·a·tion, mərməˈrāSHən, n, 1. the action of murmuring. 2. a flock of starlings
I began this series after being attracted to the beautifully synchronized movements of a large flock of birds I saw during my evening commute. Research led to the discovery that the flock was made up of one of the world’s most destructive invasive species- the European Starling. Introduced to New York’s Central Park in the 1890’s in an attempt to populate the park with every bird from William Shakespeare’s plays, the starling has since spread throughout North America. Mesmerizing and beautiful to watch, starlings destroy native bird habitats, cause billions of dollars in damage to crops, and threaten public health. For me, this contrast is a metaphor for our complicated relationship with invasive species and ill-conceived attempts to improve upon nature.
Curb Appeal : The Marketing of Sprawl
In my series Curb Appeal, I examine the contrast between suburbia’s utopian marketing campaigns and the less idyllic, often surreal reality.
Link: Review of "Curb Appeal" at Artshow Gallery by Felicia Feaster for Creative Loafing Atlanta
Sam Hill creates large-scale color photographs that challenge perceptions. His artistic influences include William Eggleston, the Bechers and Andreas Gursky. In his most recent series, “Murmuration”, he uses a moving camera to evoke relative motion in images containing only sky, trees, and a flock of birds.
Sam’s artistic recognition began at an early age with success in regional art contests. These led to an after-school job printing photographs and eventually a scholarship to the Savannah College of Art and Design. There he studied illustration and art history before embarking on a successful illustration career. Over time Sam’s creative focus returned to making art with a camera. He began making a living printing for professional photographers and designers in traditional darkrooms. In the early 2000's he transitioned those skills to digital printing processes.
Today his work combines a rich aesthetic background with years of technical printing experience. Sam currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina
Photgrapher's FORUM- "Best of Photography 2017" Honorable Mention and inclusion in the 2017 Best of Photography annual
Shutter Magazine-July 2017 edition
F-Stop Magazine-June-July 2017 edition