Bookpleasures.com welcomes as our guest Patrick Stull. Patrick is a self-taught artist and works in many artistic disciplines. He is was educated at San Diego State University with degrees in psychology, economics and philosophy during the 1960’s, amidst the backdrop of the counter-culture revolution and the Viet Nam War, where his social consciousness and political views were shaped.

He has recently ventured into the realm of surrealism, creating powerful imagery that reflects on our humanity while dealing with the meaning of art.


Patrick says, "His ongoing work is based in large-scale digital photography accompanied by sculpture/body casts, composition art, painting, poetry/prose and drawings.”

His art is then integrated, collectively, into exhibitions to provide the viewer a once in a lifetime experience.

Patrick's most recent publication is Encounters.

Norm: Good day Patrick and thanks for participating in our interview.

How did you get started in photography and what motivates you to continue taking pictures economically, politically, intellectually or emotionally?

Patrick: Hello Norm, my relationship to the camera began in my late teens. As long as I can remember, I was fascinated and intrigued by its magic and power. I seriously began my photographic journey in 2000, wanting to create exhibitions that had relevance to society and our daily lives. I believe this is a result of my education and experiences with the counter culture revolution of the 60’s. Thus, began my journey.

I haphazardly fell into photographing women, communing with them and explicating their lives and bodies with the camera. Photographers dedicate their lives to many different areas of interest. I have spent almost two decades working with women, in all stages of life and in many circumstances. Women are the most amazing and fascinating subjects. They inspire me to continue my work. If they trust you, they allow you to enter their worlds of fashion, their moments of creating new life, their pain of being raped, the challenges of being a female dancer or performer and the misogyny to which they are subjected.

I journeyed with a woman with stage four breast cancer and experienced her passing, which was an emotional earthquake for me. As if my intrusions into their lives were not enough, many of the women disrobed presenting their bodies so I could express a specific artistic concept.

To provide you a more poetic insight to your question:

To understand a woman is to nourish your existence.

To protect her from the violence is to connect to your humanity.

To stand beside her in the face of injustice, transforms you and connects you to the ethereal.

Norm: What do you consider to be your greatest success (or successes) so far in your career?

Patrick: The creation of my second exhibition Evolve a woman’s journey was a magical turning point in my life. So far it was my most fulfilling, professional experience. This 20,000 square foot exhibit contained over one hundred large-scale photographs that appeared to be free floating, all highlighted with task lighting.

There were 20 body castings, 200 drawings and a mp3 player that contained originally scored music and narrations. The walls were special twenty-foot sheets of sheer colored fabrics that created an ethereal experience. It was truly magical.

Norm: What has been your greatest challenge (professionally) that you’ve overcome in getting to where you’re at today?

Patrick: Photographing the female and male forms in their natural states was challenging at first. Primal magnetism, social mores about sexuality and the power of the body to create erotic energy all present moments, challenging the sense of purpose.

After a while, dealing with the nudity became second nature, allowing me to shape, expose and use the body as a canvas while creating unique imagery.

Often, people judge me negatively when I tell them I photograph the human body. I see their disdain or uneasiness for my work. I used to be bothered by this but I have overcome my feelings and realize their discomfort as shared with me is not about me.

Norm: What did you find most useful in learning photography? What was least useful or most destructive?

Patrick: Photography stops time, unveils our natures and most of all offers a voyeuristic relationship to the world. I was asked what I love about my work. I hesitated, and realized my photography is about my love of light and its power to bring attention to the minuscule and sedate the gross.

Light allows me to speak to the viewers’ souls, attempting to move one from the ordinary to the sublime. Any and all artists/photographers must become one with light. Once you have accomplished this union you have the potential to create powerful imagery.

This may seem a strange comment but the camera and photo assistants can cause a dependency that is distracting and can lead to complacency. The other somewhat destructive element is hubris, which can prevent you from digging deeper into what a subject may yield. I have photographed dozens of pregnant women and looking back, I missed some artistic opportunities by being complacent or by allowing my ego to get in the way.

Norm: Who or what was your biggest influence in photography and why?

Patrick: My biggest influence in photography is the subject matter. If I see injustice, humor or individuals that have amazing gifts such as the dancers, musicians or yogi, I am creatively energized and become absorbed into every aspect of my subject’s being. This is a special union that is difficult for me to explain. It’s intimate, emotional, very cerebral and empowering. For some reason this experience makes me excited about life and allows me to feel fulfilled.

Norm: Your favourite image you've ever taken and why?

Patrick: This is a challenging question, it’s like asking me to choose between my children.

My portrait work is the most exciting thing for me to create. A portrait is more intimate than photographing any other part of the body. Portraits allow me the privilege to peer into a woman’s soul. She exposes herself in a way that’s more intense than being nude. The face, the eyes, skin and hair tell all. If I had to choose the one image that has penetrated my artistic being and remains today, it is the family portrait of three females, together. The image is a side perspective of mother, daughter and granddaughter.

The power of the image is that of presenting the passage of time, it allows one to connect to the process of life. The viewer journeys from youth to the aging matriarch. Everyone that views the image has different reactions - some see it as confrontational, others love its power as I do. No matter what, the image penetrates my being and has a disruptive humanistic message that connects me to women, my nature and my ultimate purpose, that of discovery.

Norm: Exactly what it is you want to say with your Encounters and the images contained therein and how do you get you images to do that?

Patrick: Encounters, as with any art, is about the viewer. It is what they bring to the viewing experience as their eye’s transverse the images. The reality and power of the images, hinge on how emotionally they impact the viewer’s psyche. My wish is that the viewer acquires a deeper appreciation and respect for their own humanity, their bodies and this amazing creature we call female.

Images present the way they do based on the artist’s nature and the power of light that create magic. The end result is as much about the subject, as it is about my interaction with all the photographic elements. There are moments when the intensity of my relationship to the image overpowers me and I have an emotional experience. The best way I can describe is akin to Alice falling down the rabbit hole consumed and empowered by the experience. This creates a unique image.

Norm: How did you get the women that are portrayed in Encounters in just the way you wanted them?

Patrick: There’s a lengthy process to choreograph and create a concept/image. Part of that process is collaboration and trust, which is the glue that most subjects want and need. For the most part women that enter my doors not only want to be photographed but have a deep desire to present their nude body and life situation to the camera, in a unique and powerful way. The answer is trust and purpose.

Norm: What technology/software/camera gear do you use to keep focused on what you do best, as you photograph?

Patrick: I use a medium format Phase One camera, Capture One software and Pro Photo lighting equipment. I use an iMac twenty-eight-inch monitor with Adobe products to produce the high-quality imagery you see. The combination of these tools allows me to use and shape light around and onto my subjects.

Norm: Where can our readers find out more about you and your work?

Patrick: Those interested can visit my WEBSITE

The website contains video excerpts from my exhibition, a sampling of my imagery and readers can also purchase my work there.

Norm: What is next for Patrick Stull?

Patrick: I have almost twenty years of photographic imagery that I will be presenting to the public over the next two years. There are five books underway and or completed: Hidden Dimensions (summer, 2019),  Photographic Art (late summer, 2019), Yoga, A Healing Moment (late fall, 2019), Dharma (spring, 2020), Being Different (fall, 2020).

I have two dreams: one, to show my exhibition Evolve a woman’s journey once again and secondly, I look for the privilege to have an exhibition of my work in a major museum.

Norm: As this interview comes to an end, what question do you wish that someone would ask about Encounters, but no one has?

Patrick: Everyone loves the imagery, wants to know about my subjects and the production quality of the book itself. I would love more questions about my prose.

Follow Here To Read Norm's Review of Encounters